Vaccinology in Context: The Historical Burden of Infectious Diseases

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Abstract

In a 1977 article summarizing 40 years of his involvement in vaccine research, Jonas Salk, the renowned and controversial force behind the first effective polio vaccine, coined the term “vaccinology” to comprehensively describe his chosen field (Salk and Salk 1977). The term is meant to encompass the broad areas of discipline requisite for the science of vaccines: microbiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and immunology. In defining this novel branch of science, Salk recognized that vaccinology formed a nexus between medicine, public health, sociology, and biochemistry. He understood the rich history of scientific accomplishments that defined the field and formed an inextricable link with the past.

Keywords

Yellow Fever Terra Firma Yellow Fever Virus Vaccine Research Pneumonic Plague 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Medicine, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Pathogens, Memorial Hospital of Rhode IslandThe Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown UniversityProvidenceUSA

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