How Are Vaccines Made?
Picture of a giant household seated across the Thanksgiving dinner desk. Mother, on the head of the desk, is speaking
Mother: I’m so glad we may all be collectively for Thanksgiving this 12 months! Emily, we’re particularly glad to lastly meet you. Sam has been gushing about you nonstop because you two began courting.
Picture of a younger grownup male (her son, Sam) and his girlfriend (Emily) smiling
Sam: You lastly have a physician within the household, Mother! [laughs] Emily is nearly accomplished with med faculty. She’s been working at a vaccine clinic within the metropolis as a part of her residency.
Picture of Mother smiling and speaking
Mother: How fantastic! I simply received my flu shot final week. I simply want I may persuade Sam’s dad to do the identical.
Picture of Dad, seated on the different finish of the desk, speaking
Dad: I’m positive you’re doing good work, Emily. I’m simply not satisfied that vaccines are secure. How do they even give you these issues?
Picture of Emily speaking
Emily: I completely perceive your concern, Mr. Rose. However plenty of work goes into ensuring vaccines are secure and efficient. I can inform you a little bit bit about how they’re made if you happen to’re ? I don’t need to bore everybody. [laughs]
Picture of everybody on the desk (besides Emily) nodding and smiling
Dad: I’d love to listen to from an skilled supply, Emily — and we’ve received plenty of turkey to get by means of right here! [laughs] Please, go forward.
Step 1: Selecting a Goal
Emily: Effectively, first, scientists select which illness-causing virus or micro organism to focus on with a vaccine.
Immune points
Too uncommon
Not critical sufficient
(these phrases ought to are available separately to match VO)
Some viruses aren’t good targets due to the best way they work together with the immune system. Others are too uncommon, or don’t trigger illness critical sufficient to wish a vaccine.
Picture of grownup lady (Aunt Lucy) at desk speaking
Aunt Lucy: Is that why there’s no vaccine for HIV? Due to the best way it impacts the immune system?
Picture of Emily nodding
HIV with a circle and slash round it
Emily Precisely. Though scientists are engaged on an HIV vaccine. HIV simply isn’t a simple goal.
Step 2: Exploratory Part
As soon as a vaccine goal has been chosen, the exploratory section begins.
Picture of a lab crammed with a various group of scientists bent over microscopes
Throughout this section, researchers research the best way the virus or micro organism impacts the immune system.
Picture of Emily speaking
Visible illustration of the method of the imitation invader educating physique to fend off virus/micro organism
The objective is to create an “imitation invader” that teaches our our bodies find out how to fend off the virus or micro organism. That manner, our immune system is aware of what to do when it comes throughout the true factor.
Step 3: Pre-Medical Testing
As soon as the vaccine is lastly developed, pre-clinical testing can begin.
Collection of photos: first a Petri dish, then a math equation, then a white mouse
Throughout this section, the vaccine is examined in a number of totally different ways in which don’t contain individuals.
Picture of syringe/needle with purple X over it
Sadly, not many vaccines make it previous pre-clinical testing as a result of they don’t activate the immune system the best way they need to.
Sam speaks whereas he places extra meals on his plate
Sam: If a vaccine does present potential, what occurs subsequent?
Step 4: FDA Approval for Medical Testing
Emily: The following step is getting approval for scientific testing from the FDA. This occurs in three phases.
A various group of individuals lined as much as get a vaccine from a lab-coated lady.
Through the first section of scientific testing, small teams of individuals obtain the trial vaccine.
A bigger, various group of individuals lined as much as get a vaccine from the identical lab-coated lady
Through the second section, the research is expanded to incorporate individuals who share issues in widespread (like age and well being) with the individuals the vaccine is meant for.
A fair bigger various group of individuals lined as much as get a vaccine from the identical lab-coated lady
Through the third section, the vaccine is given to hundreds of individuals to ensure it’s secure and efficient.
Little boy seems up from consuming his meal
Little Boy: How do they be sure that a vaccine will work for everybody?
Picture of Emily speaking
Emily: Effectively, scientific trials attempt to embrace plenty of several types of individuals to ensure the vaccine works nicely for everybody, with out harmful unintended effects.
Step 5: Manufacturing and distribution
Vaccines coming off manufacturing belts and being shipped to after which arriving at physician’s workplaces, pharmacies, public well being clines
As soon as a vaccine is lastly authorized, that’s when it will get mass-produced and distributed to physician’s workplaces, pharmacies and public well being clinics throughout the nation.
Picture of Dad speaking
Dad: That’s the half that worries me. How do we all know a vaccine is secure when it’s by no means been used earlier than?
Picture of guidelines with the phrases “secure” and “efficient” checked off
Emily: I hear you, and I feel it’s pure to fret about one thing model new. However vaccines are based mostly on years and years of analysis, and a vaccine is rarely authorized by the FDA until it’s confirmed to be secure and efficient.
Picture of Dad nodding his head and speaking
Dad: I need to say, you’ve made a convincing case for vaccines, Emily. I’ve to admit, I didn’t know half of what you simply instructed us. [laughs]
Picture of Emily laughing and speaking
Emily : Most individuals don’t! And there’s plenty of misinformation about vaccines on the market. That’s why I’m all the time prepared to speak about them — a minimum of till it’s time for dessert …
Picture of mother, laughing and standing up from desk
Mother: Talking of which, who needs pumpkin pie?
Picture of everybody at desk smiling and elevating a hand
Fade out
Picture of the dad getting a vaccine.
Wish to be sure you and your family members are updated on vaccines? Your healthcare supplier, pharmacist or native well being division will help.
www.cdc.gov/vaccines
You too can go to the CDC web site to study extra about vaccines and vaccine schedules.
For extra info, please go to HealthyWomen.org
This useful resource was created with help from Merck.
