New vaccine technology--what do you need to know?
OBJECTIVE
To review the vaccine technology presently under development, in trials, or in some cases already available with a focus on applications for the primary care provider.


METHODS
Selected scientific literature and Internet sources.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaccine technology has made significant advances in the last 100 years. Newer approaches in vaccine designs include recombinant subunit vaccines, reassortment virus vaccines, live viral vectors, conjugate vaccines, and DNA vaccines. Traditional vaccines are generally expensive to produce and both live vaccines and protein-based vaccines require special storage conditions. These factors limit the worldwide usefulness of the familiar vaccines of today.


CONCLUSIONS
Keeping abreast of changes in this rapidly changing technology is necessary for health care providers to fulfill their roles effectively. New protocols that use nasal, vaginal, and intraperitoneal routes as well as subcutaneous injections and skin patches, edible vaccines and time release methods may be preferred depending on factors such as the age, health status, and emotional status of the patient. These advances hold promise for further progress in the development of vaccines that are protective against multiple organisms in more acceptable delivery systems.
Minichiello
Virginia
V
v.minichiello@neu.edu
D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014612:Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate; D019444:Vaccines, DNA