Vaccines

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Vaccines have been developed against small pox, anthrax and bubonic and pneumonic plague. The anthrax and bubonic plague vaccines are not considered optimally safe. The bubonic plague vaccine is no longer used in the U.S. The use of anitbiotics to treat patients is considered effective enough to protect the public from this infection. The Anthrax vaccine has had severe side effects at a high enough rate to cause apprehension about getting the vaccine or not. A safer vaccine is being investigated, but has not been developed yet. Scientists are also looking into vaccines for salmonella, the various hanta viruses, tuleremia, and glanders.

The use of these organisms as biological weapons of war has reinvigorated the vaccination programs for the high risk groups. Concerns of individuals in these groups are valid in reference to possible side-effects to the vaccination. Outline of possible Side Effects.

The effectiveness or validity of vaccination programs has been debated since vaccinations have been used. Edward Gener is credited with creating the first vaccine for small pox using a cowpox virus. Even this information is in debate. Vaccines allow the body to create memory cells to the specific antigens on a virus or bacteria and this allows the body to have a speedy response, when you are exposed to the actual microbe. The proponents point to the success of the small pox vaccination program, which has led to the medical community declaring the eradication of natural smallpox occurrences in 1980. The opponents of such programs argue against some of the findings of some in the medical community. They even argue that such programs are more harmful than helpful, especially in many of the less harmful diseases.

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