What Vaccines are in Development?

There are already so many vaccines that have been created today, so it may seem difficult to imagine that other kinds of vaccines are still being created. If vaccines are meant to help keep older diseases at bay, then what kind of vaccines are there that could still be created? After reading an article that was published by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in 2012, I discovered that "America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing nearly 300 vaccines for the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases" (PhRMA) All of these 300 vaccines are either in the process of testing through clinical trials or are in the process of being approved through the Food and Drug Administration. The article mentions that of these 300 vaccinations, 170 are for infectious diseases, 102 are for cancers, and 8 are for neurological diseases.  Through the constant creation of new vaccinates, the article states that a recent study by the CDC proved that "there has been a greater than 90 percent decrease in incidence of nine infectious diseases, including smallpox and measles, for which vaccines have been recommended for decades" (PhRMA). Less deaths due to vaccine preventable diseases has multiple different benefits, including less cost for healthcare, more productivity, and fewer days lost at work. In their article, PhRMA also lists several different vaccines that are in development such as a, genetically-modified vaccine for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, a therapeutic vaccine that increases the immune response against the HIV virus, and an immunotherapeutic vaccine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Overall, it is important to keep this information in mind whenever we think about whether or not to vaccinate our children. New vaccines are being created all the time, and it important to know that all vaccines go through a trial and approval process before they are offered to the public. As I mentioned earlier, vaccines are responsible for a 90 percent decrease in 9 different infectious diseases. If we do not all decide to vaccinate our children, it could mean the rise of dangerous diseases such as smallpox and measles, which would be incredibly dangerous for the public. 

To read more in PhRMA's article, visit this link:
http://www.phrma.org/press-release/medicines-in-development-for-vaccines