Vaccines: A Biography

Why another book about vaccines? There are already a few extremely well-written medical textbooks that provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art technical reviews regarding vaccine science. Additionally, in the past decade alone, a number of engrossing, provocative books have been published on various related issues ra- ing from vaccines against specific diseases to vaccine safety and policy. Yet there remains a significant gap in the literature - the history of vaccines. Vaccines: A Biography seeks to fill a void in the extant literature by focusing on the history of vaccines and in so doing, recounts the social, cultural, and scientific history of vaccines; it places them within their natural, historical context. The book traces the lineage - the "biography" - of individual vaccines, originating with deeply rooted medical problems and evolving to an eventual conclusion. Nonetheless, these are not "biographies" in the traditional sense; they do not trace an individual's growth and development. Instead, they follow an idea as it is conceived and dev- oped, through the contributions of many. These are epic stories of discovery, of risk-takers, of individuals advancing medical science, in the words of the famous physical scientist Isaac Newton, "by standing on the shoulders of giants. " One grant reviewer described the book's concept as "triumphalist"; although meant as an indictment, this is only partially inaccurate.

This multi-authored book examines the human stories that underlie the development of vaccines. Stories are anchored in their historical context and cover key figures, scientific and political hurdles, and clinical trial controversies.

The concept and practice of vaccination ranks among the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century

Vaccinology in Context: The Historical Burden of Infectious Diseases.- Smallpox.- A Brief History of Microbiology and Immunology.- Anthrax.- Rabies.- Killed Vaccines: Cholera, Typhoid, and Plague.- Toxoid Vaccines.- Tuberculosis and BCG.- The Discovery of Viruses and the Evolution of Vaccinology.- Yellow Fever.- Influenza.- Polio.- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.- Diseases of Military Importance.- Varicella and Zoster.- Polysaccharide Vaccines.- Hepatitis B.- Japanese Encephalitis.- Hepatitis A.- Rotavirus.- Human Papillomaviruses.- The Future of Vaccine Discovery and Development.