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Vaccine Safety and Human Genetic VariationsSerious health problems following vaccination are rare, even though millions of people are vaccinated every year in the United States. Why do only a small number of people develop these health problems, called vaccine-associated adverse events (VAEs)? Do they have genetically determined differences in their immune responses to vaccination, compared to those who do not experience adverse events? Few studies have been published on the genetic risk factors for VAEs. CDC has lead responsibility for monitoring the safety of vaccines licensed for use in the U.S., and for performing research to inform safe vaccination practices. So CDC is working with partners to study the relationship between human genetics and vaccine safety. Identifying genetic associations and risk of serious VAEs eventually may allow—
ISOs Genomics InitiativeCDC's Immunization Safety Office (ISO) is developing a genomics initiative to—
This initiative's long-term goal is to identify genetic features that can be determined before vaccination, so doctors can tailor vaccine schedules to the patient's personal risk. On January 30 and 31, 2008, ISO held a conference titled "Understanding the Genomic Basis of Vaccine Safety" that brought together representatives of CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Defense's Vaccine Healthcare Centers Network, research universities, and vaccine manufacturers. The conference discussed a systematic approach to research into the genetics of immunization safety. StudiesThere is increasing appreciation for how human genetic variation may affect the risk for medication-related and vaccine-related adverse events. While substantial research has been done on the genetic basis of medication safety, relatively little research has been done on the genetic basis of vaccine safety. ISO is sponsoring four studies on this issue—
Page last reviewed: September 24, 2008
Page last updated: February 29, 2008 Content source: Immunization Safety Office, Office of the Chief Science Officer |
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