[The Norwegian vaccination program]

Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2006 Oct 5;126(19):2538-40.
[Article in Norwegian]

Abstract

Development of vaccines has in many ways been the art of the possible, using current knowledge about infections and microbes to devise new products. The aim of every vaccination is to prevent disease, but use of vaccines within vaccination programs is usually targeted not only to protect the individual, but also to changing the epidemiology of the disease. Several new vaccines will become available during the next decade, but the vaccination program will probably not be dramatically changed. Increased knowledge about the immune system might, in a longer time perspective, make it possible to rebuild a vaccination program on a new basis. Immunisations can perhaps be used for targeting the immune system in ways that still give protection against the specific infections, but in addition lead to better health through general protection against diseases, less allergy and less autoimmune diseases than we have today.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Vaccines / history
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs / history*
  • Immunization Programs / trends
  • Norway
  • Vaccination* / history
  • Vaccination* / trends
  • Viral Vaccines / history

Substances

  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Viral Vaccines