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gmotelet t1_j0781jw wrote

Reply to comment by Decent_Expression179 in Cancer mRNA vaccine completes pivotal trial by ILikeTasks

From the CDC website

"Vaccine: A preparation that is used to stimulate the body's immune response against diseases"

This is exactly what it is doing. It doesn't matter that the disease is already there.

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FastFingersDude t1_j08j7pn wrote

I hear their point. In general we talk about vaccines being taken before contracting a virus.

This seems more like a personalized treatment after contracting the virus. Most people would not refer to this as a vaccine.

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GLnoG t1_j08pj07 wrote

Well the definitions from the CDC that user provided clearly says that it is a vaccine, so idk why most people wouldn't refer to it as a vaccine.

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fireisveryfun t1_j0921mq wrote

Redditors will argue semantics with the foremost experts on a topic. Someone could invent a warp drive tomorrow, host an AMA and theyll be flooded with "well acksually".

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dylee27 t1_j08rsfc wrote

I think that just means the general public has a misconception of what the term vaccine covers. We should let experts correct our misconceptions, not the other way around.

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FastFingersDude t1_j0a0x2v wrote

I’m not arguing that. I agree we should clear misconceptions.

My argument is, that I understand why OP posted their doubt. I consider myself pretty informed, and this is the first time ever I read of vaccines used as ‘treatment’ (“by stimulating the bodies immune response against diseases.”)

Would love to have more public clarity on this, especially as mRNA vaccines become more commonplace.

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Irrepressible_Monkey t1_j0h7lzh wrote

It's less common for the vaccine to come after the disease but it can happen. The best example I know is that the rabies vaccine is still effective for a certain amount of time after someone has been exposed to the virus.

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FastFingersDude t1_j0hjb5u wrote

Interesting. Helpful reply.

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Irrepressible_Monkey t1_j0lpeyj wrote

Thanks. I'd agree it'd be very bad for people to get the general idea they can have a vaccine after infection, though, when it's too late usually. A lot of people hospitalised with COVID asked for it, for example.

Something else that wasn't widely pointed out is having a vaccine too soon after a COVID infection can cause a very strong reaction, which can then cause people to avoid getting more vaccinations.

We do indeed need more public clarity, as you say.

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