Preparing vaccines against smallpox from plants

Researchers have developed a vaccine to prevent smallpox from plants and they say the vaccine is both effective and safe.

Smallpox has almost been paid worldwide after people use a highly effective vaccine made from the live virus that has been weakened. Unfortunately, in some people, this vaccine causes some serious side effects.

Smallpox(Photo: VOA)

The routine vaccination program for US smallpox vaccines ended in 1972 after the disease was paid in the United States. However, the US military re-vaccinated the vaccine in 2002 for fear of bioterrorism.

Now, German researchers have developed a smallpox vaccine - which they say is very safe - from the virus that is no longer contagious, tobacco and cabbage (collard plant). This method is called recombinant technique.

Tests on mice showed that the vaccine is 100% effective in protecting mice from smallpox. The results of the study were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The lead author of the study is Hilary Koprowski of Thomas Jefferson University. She said: ' I will consider it until the study is over.'

Before a drug is widely used, clinical trials are needed to determine whether it is effective and safe.

Samuel Bozzette is a senior scientist working at Rand Corporation, an organization specializing in public policy issues. Rand has offered to use the old vaccine to vaccinate health workers, who need to take care of smallpox infected people in the event of an attack.

Mr. Bozzette said now a safer vaccine could help implement this plan.

He said: 'The availability of a safe, recombinant vaccine will be a big step forward in what people believe is a prudent policy: it should be injected now. prevent some residents. "

Hong Linh