Vaccine

A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides immunity to a specific disease. It usually contains a weakened or inactive form of the disease which then stimulates the body's immune system to recognize it as a threat and destroy it, giving it the means to destroy any further versions of it that it may encounter in the future.

Vaccines have been proven to be the most effective method of preventing and eradicating infectious diseases. The complete eradication of smallpox and significant reduction of polio, measles, and tetanus have proven as such.

Vaccines lead to a phenomenon known as "herd immunity" in which diseases cannot spread with ease as the majority of a population are vaccinated. However, herd immunity can only work if a certain percentage of the population is vaccinated.

Most vaccines are delivered via injection, although notable exceptions include the polio vaccine which is often delivered orally. This method was found to have certain advantages as it allowed for administration by staff without formal training, and reduced the risk of blood contamination.

Is your COVID shot effective against the new variant? Here’s what to know

The nickname “Cicada” reflects how the variant seemed to reemerge after a long lull.

MARCH 30, 2026|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Signs advertising flu vaccinations are displayed in a pharmacy window, as hospitalisations rise, with Britain and other European countries grappling with a severe flu season and health authorities warning of increasing cases driven by a mutated strain of the virus, in London, Britain, December 2025.

Cases of the measles rise in Israel.

Michigan announces measles outbreak after three linked cases reported

The department said the first Michigan measles case was tied to travel to Florida, and the additional linked cases show how quickly the virus can spread among people who are not immune.

MARCH 20, 2026|ByREUTERS

A nurse fills a syringe with a vaccine before administering an injection at a kids clinic in Kiev, Ukraine August 14, 2019

US judge blocks RFK Jr.’s vaccine policy overhaul, halts changes to child shot schedule

Murphy's ruling forced the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to postpone a meeting set to begin on Wednesday, after he concluded it was not lawfully constituted.

MARCH 17, 2026|ByREUTERS

The first dog to get a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine.

Engineer crafts custom dog cancer vaccine with ChatGPT; Rosie’s tumors shrink 75%

Paul Conyngham, a tech entrepreneur and AI expert, pursued the project after veterinarians gave Rosie only a few months to live.

MARCH 16, 2026|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Surprising find: Same-arm vaccine shots enhance immunity

Antibodies from same-arm vaccinations showed increased effectiveness against variants.

APRIL 30, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Surprising find: Same-arm vaccine shots enhance immunity.

In a world first, Brazil approves chikungunya vaccine

The country is considered the epicenter of the disease in the Americas, with epidemics reported over the years.

APRIL 26, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

In a world first, Brazil approves chikungunya vaccine.

Shingles vaccine linked to 20 percent lower dementia risk in older adults

Researchers exploit a natural experiment in Wales to isolate the vaccine’s protective effect against dementia.

APRIL 5, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shingles vaccine linked to 20 percent lower dementia risk in older adults.

Technion close to develop oral consumption of medications to tackle COVID, flu, instead of vaccines

Imagine if antibodies, hormones for fertility, proteins like insulin, and vaccines could be swallowed instead of taken by injection.

MARCH 16, 2025ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

PROF. ASSAF ZINGER’S team at work.

US CDC plans study into vaccines and autism, sources say

It is unclear whether US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has long promoted anti-vaccine views, is involved in the planned CDC study or how it would be carried out.

MARCH 7, 2025ByREUTERS

Polio vaccine by injection.

Israeli teen diagnosed with polio, Health Ministry investigates

“The primary way to protect children from paralysis is through the inactivated polio vaccine,” the Health Ministry stated.

DECEMBER 25, 2024ByAVIHAI CHIIM

A coronavirus vaccine dose is seen being administered at a Meuhedet vaccination center in Jerusalem, on February 16, 2021.

Learning to count our blessings despite war, COVID, hurricanes, and more - opinion

Israel and the world both seem to be in a terrible mess at the moment. Wars, famine, droughts, hurricanes, massacres. Count our blessings? What blessings?

DECEMBER 18, 2024BySHLOMO MAITAL

Olim from North America arrive on a special " Aliyah flight" to the Ben Gurion airport

Trump repeats warning to Hamas to release hostages soon or face consequences

Trump said he would discuss ways to bring an end to the Ukraine war with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

DECEMBER 16, 2024ByREUTERS

(Illustrative) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president-elect Donald Trump over a backdrop of hostage posters.

A new Israeli clinical trial is testing a tuberculosis vaccine to prevent Alzheimer's - opinion

If – God forbid – I show the biomarkers associated with the probable development of Alzheimer’s, I will receive three doses of the vaccine, which has minimal side effects.

NOVEMBER 18, 2024ByBARBARA SOFER

REAL BRAIN exhibit at Bristol Science Centre, UK.

This week in Jewish history: Blood libels are not new

A highly abridged weekly version of the daily Dust & Stars.

OCTOBER 27, 2024BySTEVEN DRUCKER

The Simon of Trent blood libel: Illustration in Hartmann Schedel’s Weltchronik, 1493