From time to time, the CDC committee that makes recommendations about vaccines (ACIP) decides to âchange their mindsâ about the use of a particular vaccine, even though we might have been using it for a long time. Each time they do this, there is something about the âoldâ vaccine they didnât like, and something about the ânewâ vaccine that fixes the problem. For each of the following, explain (1) the difference between how the old and the new vaccines function, and (2) how the new vaccine avoids some problem with the old one. If the new vaccine introduces some problem of its own, describe that, too.
A. In 1983 a 23-valent pneumonia vaccine was developed using the polysaccharide capsules from 23 different Strep pneumoniae strains, and was used for elderly people. But in 2015 the ACIP recommended switching to a 13-valent polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (Prevnar-13).
B. In 1997 the recommendation was made to switch from a whole-cell Pertussis vaccine, which had been in use since 1949, to an acellular subunit vaccine.
C. In 1961 we switched from an inactivated Polio vaccine (developed in 1955) to a live attenuated one. Then in 2000 we switched back to the inactivated one. Explain both ACIP decisions. D. In the near future, the decision may be made to switch from the current Flu vaccine (either the live attenuated or the inactivated one) to a DNA-based flu vaccine.
From time to time, the CDC committee that makes recommendations about vaccines (ACIP) decides to âchange their mindsâ about the use of a particular vaccine, even though we might have been using it for a long time. Each time they do this, there is something about the âoldâ vaccine they didnât like, and something about the ânewâ vaccine that fixes the problem. For each of the following, explain (1) the difference between how the old and the new vaccines function, and (2) how the new vaccine avoids some problem with the old one. If the new vaccine introduces some problem of its own, describe that, too.
A. In 1983 a 23-valent pneumonia vaccine was developed using the polysaccharide capsules from 23 different Strep pneumoniae strains, and was used for elderly people. But in 2015 the ACIP recommended switching to a 13-valent polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine (Prevnar-13).
B. In 1997 the recommendation was made to switch from a whole-cell Pertussis vaccine, which had been in use since 1949, to an acellular subunit vaccine.
C. In 1961 we switched from an inactivated Polio vaccine (developed in 1955) to a live attenuated one. Then in 2000 we switched back to the inactivated one. Explain both ACIP decisions. D. In the near future, the decision may be made to switch from the current Flu vaccine (either the live attenuated or the inactivated one) to a DNA-based flu vaccine.
