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Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Each of the Ebola vaccines being lined up for testing carries potential downsides, researchers say, ranging from efficacy that faded in less than a year to the chance it will give healthy people flu-like symptoms. In a worst-case scenario, they could do more harm than good.
Human trials, just starting on some vaccines, could also unveil unknown side effects, an unwelcome possibility for shots designed to be taken by people who may never be infected with Ebola. That?s why it?s imperative to cast a wide net in seeking a solution, said Matthias Schnell, a microbiologist at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
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In Ebola, a vaccine that creates an immune response that isn?t precisely targeted to shut down the virus might make it easier for the virus to infect healthy cells, Neuman said.
[Large snip - overview of state of testing and results and issues. Read at link http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?...6BOIKJ36CTLKF]
?Ebola is good at hiding,? Neuman said in a telephone interview. Making a vaccine ?is hard,? he added. ?If it was easy we would have one by now.?
Human trials, just starting on some vaccines, could also unveil unknown side effects, an unwelcome possibility for shots designed to be taken by people who may never be infected with Ebola. That?s why it?s imperative to cast a wide net in seeking a solution, said Matthias Schnell, a microbiologist at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
snip
In Ebola, a vaccine that creates an immune response that isn?t precisely targeted to shut down the virus might make it easier for the virus to infect healthy cells, Neuman said.
[Large snip - overview of state of testing and results and issues. Read at link http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?...6BOIKJ36CTLKF]
?Ebola is good at hiding,? Neuman said in a telephone interview. Making a vaccine ?is hard,? he added. ?If it was easy we would have one by now.?