Vaccinology experts find themselves faced with a new paradigm that goes beyond the preventive action of vaccines to deepen the treatment of non-infectious pathologies, an approach exposed at the recent Congress of the Spanish Association of Vaccinology (AEV), where it was also expressed concern about social determinants and the role of communication in vaccine acceptance.
<img width="1170" height="752" class="attachment-newpress-featured-large size-newpress-featured-large wp-post-image lazyload" alt="¿Pueden las vacunas llegar a curar enfermedades como el cáncer o el alzhéimer?" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" data-attachment-id="359638" data-permalink="https://efesalud.com/pueden-vacunas-curar-enfermedades-cancer-alzheimer/inicio-de-la-campana-de-vacunacion-contra-la-gripe-y-la-covid-en-las-residencias-de-mayores-de-malllorca/" data-orig-file="https://efesalud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/EFE.-MIQUEL-A.-BORRAS.jpg" data-orig-size="1920,1280" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"EFE","camera":"","caption":"PALMA, 08/10/2024.- Vacunas dispuestas este martes en el que ha dado inicio la campau00f1a de vacunaciu00f3n contra la gripe y la covid en las residencias de mayores de Malllorca. EFE/MIQUEL A. BORRu00c0S","created_timestamp":"1728381050","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Inicio de la campau00f1a de vacunaciu00f3n contra la gripe y la covid en las residencias de mayores de Malllorca","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Inicio de la campaña de vacunación contra la gripe y la covid en las residencias de mayores de Malllorca" data-image-description="
Vaccines cure diseases
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Vaccines for a vaccination campaign against flu and covid in Mallorca. EFE/MIQUEL A. BORRÀS
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Vaccines for a vaccination campaign against flu and covid in Mallorca. EFE/MIQUEL A. BORRÀS
The future of vaccines
Specialists observe that the future of vaccines already depends on the treatment of diseases, as well as their prevention.
“In the not too distant future, vaccines will treat and cure non-infectious diseases. We are facing a paradigm shift: they will be therapeutic vaccines that cure, not just prevent diseases. This reality also opens the door to the creation of personalized vaccines,” says the director of the Institute of
The most advanced research focuses on three fields of non-infectious pathologies:
- Vaccines to cure autoimmune diseases (such as multiple sclerosis).
- Some types of cancer (such as pancreas, melanoma or lung).
- Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or dementia with Lewy bodies.
Currently there are more than 300 clinical studies worldwide who focus on this therapeutic approach to vaccines. In Spain, trials aim to cure lung cancer and melanoma.
Nonetheless, Fernando Fariñas adds that it is very likely that none of these vaccines will have all clinical trials completed before 2030. Furthermore, he warns that we must be careful because many of the investigations tend to fall by the wayside.
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Vaccines cure diseases
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Fernando Fariñas Guerrero during the XII Congress of the Spanish Association of Vaccinology. /Image provided by the Spanish Association of Vaccinology.
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Great progress
Technology”Messenger RNA” has been used in some COVID-19 vaccines, which has generated more interest and funding.
This technique consists of using genetic material which, once injected, sends information to the cells so that they produce a protein, which awakens the immune response against the tumor, which will attack them without damaging healthy cells.
Among its advantages, it also stands out that it is composed of a less aggressive treatment compared to other more traditional approaches, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these vaccines will increase if they can be applied in the early stages of the disease.
Personalized vaccines
This messenger RNA-based therapeutic technology, still under development, applies to tumor proteinsr, which allows such personalization of treatment.
“Tumors express proteins and these can be specific to a certain type of cancer and therefore appear in all people who suffer from it, but if there are patients in whom another different protein is expressed, which does not appear in others, we will be able to create vaccines with their proteins to fight their tumor: we are talking about personalized
Ongoing trials also demonstrate that the effectiveness of this vaccination system increases significantly if used correctly. combined with immunotherapy.
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Flu vaccination campaign in Asturias. EFE/JL Cereijido
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Vaccination is not a question of faith but of science
During the Congress, the Spanish Association of Vaccinology underlined that it is essential to raise awareness among healthcare workers and the general population Vaccines are and should be present at all stages of lifefrom childhood to maturity.
Specialists have declared that it is necessary encourage the vaccine culturethey accompany patients in their vaccination process and continue to spread the word that vaccines are the safest drugs there are.
“Vaccination is not a question of faith, but of science. Vaccines saved us from Covid-19, solved the problem of polio and eradicated smallpox, and we must not forget this,” explained Rosario Cáceres, co-president of the Organizing Committee of the XII Congress of the AEV.
This is why Rosario Cáceres underlined that vaccines must be understood as a healthy lifestyle habitjust like doing physical activity or taking care of your diet.
The text you’ve provided discusses significant advancements in vaccine technology, particularly focusing on the future potential of vaccines not only for prevention but also for treatment of diseases. It highlights a paradigm shift where therapeutic vaccines could cure non-infectious diseases, including autoimmune disorders, various cancers, and neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s.
Key Points from the Text:
- Future of Vaccines:
– Experts believe that vaccines will evolve to treat diseases rather than just prevent them.
– This includes the development of personalized vaccines tailored to individual patients and their specific disease profiles.
- Fields of Focus:
- Research is concentrating on therapeutic vaccines for:
– Autoimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
– Certain cancers (e.g., pancreatic, melanoma, lung)
– Neurological diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s)
- Current Research:
– There are over 300 clinical studies worldwide exploring the therapeutic use of vaccines.
– In Spain, studies are focused on treating lung cancer and melanoma.
- Challenges Ahead:
- The director of the Institute of Vaccinology, Fernando Fariñas, indicates that while the research is promising, many investigations may not reach completion or safety verification before 2030.
- Innovation with mRNA Technology:
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, used in some COVID-19 vaccines, is gaining attention for its potential to create vaccines that instruct cells to attack tumors without harming healthy cells.
– This approach is less aggressive than traditional treatments like chemotherapy.
- Personalized Medicine:
- Personalized vaccines are being developed based on specific tumor proteins, allowing targeted treatments for individuals.
– Combining these vaccines with immunotherapy has been shown to significantly enhance effectiveness.
Conclusion:
The landscape of vaccines is undergoing transformative changes that may allow them not just to protect against diseases but potentially to treat and even cure conditions that currently have limited treatment options. While the promise of these advancements is significant, careful attention to ongoing research and trials is crucial to actualizing these future therapies.