CVI Accepts, published online ahead of print on 30 September 2009

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Clin. Vaccine Immunol. doi:10.1128/CVI.00290-09
Copyright (c) 2009, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Vaccines: The Fourth Century

Stanley A. Plotkin^*

Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Vaccinology Consultant, 4650 Wismer Road, Doylestown, PA 18902

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: stanley.plotkin{at}vaxconsult.com.

Vaccine development, which began with Jenner's observations in the late 18^th Century, has entered its fourth century. From its beginnings with the use of whole organisms that had been weakened or inactivated to the modern day use of genetic engineering it has taken advantage of the tools discovered in other branches of microbiology. Numerous successful vaccines are in use, but the list of diseases for which vaccines do not exist is long. However, the multiplicity of strategies now available, discussed in this article, portend even more successful development of vaccines.