Vaccination Strategies For Infectious Diseases Seasonal Inf

Vaccination Strategies For Infectious Diseases1 Seasonal Influenza V

Vaccination strategies for infectious diseases: 1) Seasonal influenza vaccine and surveillance Each year, there are new recommendations on which influenza viruses should be included in the influenza vaccine. How does surveillance of the circulating influenza viruses lead to development of the vaccine? Why are some years more or less effective at preventing seasonal influenza? APA Style with minimum of 450 words, with quotation, anotations and 3 references.

Paper For Above instruction

The development and effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines heavily rely on global surveillance of circulating influenza viruses. Each year, health organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), invest significant resources into monitoring influenza activity worldwide to determine the most prevalent strains. This surveillance process involves collecting and analyzing virus samples from diverse geographic regions, which provides critical data about which strains are actively spreading and causing illness (World Health Organization, 2020). This information directly informs recommendations on the composition of the seasonal influenza vaccine, aiming to match the vaccine strains as closely as possible to those circulating in the upcoming flu season.

Influenza viruses are known for their high mutation rates, particularly in their surface proteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). These mutations give rise to new variants through a process called antigenic drift, which can diminish the effectiveness of previous vaccines. As a result, the vaccine formulation must be regularly updated based on surveillance data to maintain optimal protection levels against circulating strains (Reichert & Goldstein, 2018). The process involves predicting which strains will be most prevalent in the upcoming season, based on trends observed during surveillance.

Despite rigorous surveillance and vaccine formulation efforts, the effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines varies from year to year. Several factors contribute to this variability. First, the accuracy of predictions made through surveillance can be affected by rapid viral evolution, where unforeseen antigenic changes can render the vaccine less effective. When circulating strains mutate significantly after vaccine production, the immune system may not recognize the virus effectively (Chambers, 2019). Additionally, the timing of vaccine production and administration can influence effectiveness; if vaccines are administered too early, waning immunity might reduce protection later in the season.

The effectiveness is also influenced by vaccine coverage and individual immune responses. Populations with higher vaccination rates generally experience reduced transmission and severity of illness (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Moreover, the age and health status of recipients can impact the immune response; older adults, for instance, often exhibit weaker immune responses, which can diminish vaccine efficacy. Seasonal factors such as the timing of viral circulation relative to vaccination schedules also play a role, where early vaccination may not guard against later or unexpected viral strains.

In conclusion, influenza surveillance is integral to developing effective vaccines annually. It enables health authorities to predict predominant strains and formulate vaccines accordingly. Still, factors such as viral mutation, timing, and population characteristics influence the overall effectiveness of influenza vaccination efforts. Continuous surveillance and advancements in vaccine technology are essential to improve the efficacy of seasonal influenza vaccines and protect global populations from seasonal outbreaks.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Influenza vaccination coverage, United States, 2019–20 influenza season. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/vaccination-statistics.htm

Chambers, C. (2019). The unpredictability of influenza viruses: Implications for vaccine design. Vaccine, 37(42), 6094-6100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.07.063

Reichert, T. A., & Goldstein, S. (2018). Influenza virus evolution and challenges in vaccine strain selection. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24(4), 615-620. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2404.171758

World Health Organization. (2020). Influenza surveillance and monitoring. https://www.who.int/influenza/surveillance_monitoring/en/