Vacina | Jorge Kalil | TEDxUSP

Vaccines and their impact

• Vaccines have significantly increased human life expectancy by preventing diseases like smallpox.
• The eradication of smallpox in 1980 stands as a remarkable achievement in human history.
• Brazil's National Immunization Program has played a vital role in protecting the population against preventable diseases.
• Vaccination rates in Brazil were high until 2014-2015 when they started to decline due to factors such as misinformation and waning immunity.
• The decline in vaccination led to the resurgence of diseases like measles.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for vaccines, and Brazil benefited from accumulated knowledge and existing vaccine platforms to develop and distribute vaccines quickly.
• Vaccines have the potential to prevent various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and streptococcal infections.
• Vaccination programs have saved an estimated 154 million lives in the past 50 years.

Challenges in vaccination

• Despite the effectiveness of vaccines, convincing people to get vaccinated has been challenging due to the spread of false information and misinformation.
• Political interests often hinder the adoption of knowledge and solutions.
• There is inequitable access to vaccines and resources during pandemics, with wealthy countries having significantly higher vaccination rates compared to poorer nations.

Vaccine development

• Developing a vaccine involves multiple steps, including optimizing the antigen, developing the formulation, conducting preclinical studies in animals, and ensuring industrial-scale production.
• The researcher and his team developed a nasal vaccine called multic covax to induce IgA response in the mucosa, which is crucial in preventing the disease from reaching the lungs.
• The nasal vaccine not only provided systemic protection but also prevented the virus from reaching the lungs, reducing the risk of severe disease and death in animal models.
• Ongoing research and international collaboration are essential to prepare for future pandemics.

Importance of knowledge and passion in global health

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of knowledge and passion in developing solutions to global health challenges.
• They discuss the need to identify the most challenging pathogens, develop effective vaccine platforms, and expedite drug development.
• The speaker stresses the need for inclusive solutions that benefit both developed and developing countries, enabling the prevention of preventable diseases.