About Herpes Vaccine

The Future and Present of Herpes Vaccines
 

Herpes infections are on of the most prevalent medical conditions all over the world. It is estimated that more than 70% of Americans adults have genital herpes or oral herpes infections or both. And this figure is rising. Provided the vast reach of this herpes infection need for an effective vaccine is always there, that will prevent transmission of Herpes infections like oral herpes and genital herpes.

A vaccine uses antibodies or the white blood cells used by the immune system to fight and kill infections. In the case of herpes, it has not been established as to what part of the immune system is necessary to prevent infection transmission. Also, it hasn't been ascertained if the body’s immune system can prevent the disease totally from being transmitted or give recurrent outbreaks.

Prevention of transmission requires that the immune system be able to kill or deactivate the herpes virus in the very first instance it appears in the body. Whether or not this can even be accomplished with herpes vaccines is uncertain.

From last two decades vaccines for herpes are being produced in Europe. Many different versions of Herpes Simplex vaccines have been produced in countries like Italy, England, Bulgaria. And are under thorough human testing. These vaccines are being used both for prevention of herpes transmission and also for treatment of herpes infection. The results of these herpes vaccines are not very encouraging, they seem to offer a very slight benefit in preventing transmission and treating the infection.

Pictures of genital herpes

Skinner Herpes Vaccine
 

Available for $150 approx was developed in the UK. It has undergone various trials over the past 15 years,  but it is yet to put it to test on various other studies.
 

Bulgarian Herpes Vaccine
 

Given to thousands of patients in Bulgaria for immunization against herpes has shown  good therapeutic effects. Immunized people showed a reduction in recovery period after an outbreak, reduced the frequency of recurrences and also reduced risk of visual damage in eye herpes.

Just because vaccines are available it does not mean they will always work. None of the vaccine is approved for use in the US.

In a recent study multiple injections of herpes vaccines where given to women infected with herpes over predetermined period with the expectation that it will produce a modest decline in frequency of outbreaks among the  infected women. However, it did not prevent recurrences. A herpes vaccine developed in England was believed to have promising results in reducing recurrent outbreaks and transmission. A number of articles suggest that European herpes vaccines reduce transmission of genital herpes infection to non infected partners. The claims on the success of these vaccines may be legitimate to some extent.

But an American study of the same herpes vaccine did not supported the previous results. Both the vaccines are available but an individual will have to travel to the respective countries to get a shot.

Pictures of genital herpes


 

Researchers are painstakingly working on vaccines for herpes. The initial goal is to make a vaccine that would protect the recipient of the vaccine from any herpes infection if the individual is later exposed to the herpes viruses.

Number of American Companies are researching for a Herpes vaccines and some have even come up with some. But none of these vaccines have consistently given protection or treatment. Results of a new vaccine by SmithKline Beecham were recently released. This vaccine did not contain any live viruses and cannot cause a herpes infection.

The results indicated that the benefit if any, was limited to female patients who have never had an infection with HSV which causes cold sores and genital herpes.

The Conclusion: From the currently available vaccines there may be some benefit in reducing the rate of recurrences from these herpes vaccines but they don't eradicate the virus from the body and are unable to stop recurrences fully. There is no licensed effective herpes vaccine. As from now at least 3 or 4 years time is required to see any promising herpes vaccine that prevents recurrences, and also the transmission.