Vaccines in Dermatology.

A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a specific disease. More than two centuries have passed since the first successful vaccine for smallpox was developed. We've come a long way since. Today's vaccines are among the 21(st) century's most successful and cost-effective public health tools for preventing diseases.

What was known?

In the past, most vaccines were aimed at infants and children but now adolescents, adults and elders are increasingly being targeted. Recently new methods of administering vaccines are being developed such as skin patches, aerosols and eating genetically engineered plants. Now Attempts are being made to develop vaccines that help to cure of chronic diseases and all escapable concerns of human being as opposed to preventing infectious diseases only.

Introduction

To become permanently immune to some illness, you must either catch it or be vaccinated against it.

Vaccine is an antigenic substance prepared from the causative agent of a disease or a synthetic substitute, used to provide immunity against disease.

During vaccination, a harmless version of a germ is introduced to the body and the immune system responds by producing antibodies to attack the intruder. Thereafter, a memory of this “invasion” remains so that the immune system can quickly recognize and neutralize disease causing agents when they appear [Figure 1].

Figure 1

Action of vaccine

Different Types of Vaccines[1]

Weaker or attenuated viruses to generate immunity

Live viruses that have been attenuated (weakened or altered so as not to cause illness)

Inactivated or killed organisms or viruses

Inactivated toxins (for bacterial diseases where toxins generated by the bacteria, and not the bacteria themselves, cause illness)

Segments of the pathogen (this includes both subunit and conjugate vaccines).

As dermatologists, we should be aware of the practical significance of the commonly used vaccines. Further, vaccines are newer options for prevention of transmission of several communicable diseases. Herein the commonly used and experimental vaccines of relevance to dermatology have been elucidated in a simplified manner [Tables 1 and 2].

Table 1

Vaccines of dermatological significance

Table 2

Vaccines dose, indications, effects and side effects

What is new?

Advances in genetics, immunology and molecular biology has helped researchers to make vaccines with safer alternatives. Ongoing research shows promise in therapeutic as well as prophylactic vaccination for dermatological diseases. Newer vaccines for preventing and treating HIV, HSV, vaccines against acne and malignant melanoma etc have completed phase 1 trial successfully, so hopefully in future we can not only prevent but also fight and cure these diseases.