Vaccine Failure
Inter-pathogen peptide sharing and the original antigenic sin: solving a paradox
SYNOPSIS
The peptides in vaccine pathogens and in human proteins overlap, creating a risk of post-vaccination cross-reactivity that can explain vaccine failure and vaccine-associated adverse events.
Citation
Kanduc D, Schoenfeld Y. Inter-pathogen peptide sharing and the original antigenic sin: solving a paradox. The Open Immunology Journal. 2018;8:16-27.
Summary
The authors explain how the overlap between peptides present in vaccine pathogens and in human proteins creates a risk of cross-reactivity following vaccination. Cross-reactivity can explain not only vaccine failure but also vaccine-associated adverse events, including autoimmunity. The “massive microbial vs human peptide overlap” suggests that vaccines cannot be safe and effective unless they are based on peptide sequences that are “uniquely owned by the infectious agent” but absent from the full set of human proteins.
Repeated influenza vaccination of healthy children and adults: borrow now, pay later?
SYNOPSIS
Repeated influenza vaccination at a young age substantially increases the risk of influenza at older ages.
CITATION
Carrat F, Lavenu A, Cauchemez S, Deleger S. Repeated influenza vaccination of healthy children and adults: borrow now, pay later? Epidemiology & Infection 2006;134(1):63-70.
SUMMARY
This study shows that repeated influenza vaccination at younger ages may double the risk of influenza in the elderly. The study suggests that the “possible benefits of vaccinating children after 5 years of age, and otherwise healthy adults—particularly over a long period and mainly for economic reasons—could be outweighed by severe clinical consequences and increased costs in the elderly.” Moreover, the findings are “solely due to differences between vaccine-induced immunity and naturally acquired immunity.” Unlike vaccination, naturally acquired immunity can provide long-lasting protection against subsequent infection by the same viral subtype.