Principles of vaccination and possible development strategies for rational design

Abstract

Historically, apart from hygiene, vaccination can be considered as one of the most successful accomplishments of public health in the 20th century. It has lead to some of the greater public health triumphs ever, including the eradication of naturally occurring smallpox and in the control of diseases such as polio. In addition there has been a significant reduction in disease burden imposed by measles, mumps, hepatitis, influenza, diphtheria, haemophilus influenza B and many other infections.