Then these shouldn't be called vaccines.

NegativeLatency · on Nov 25, 2022

What basis is there for saying that?

There are many vaccines that can be given after exposure, for example the rabies vaccine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies_vaccine

Izkata · on Nov 25, 2022

Vaccines are for preventing the disease. Even for rabies, if you get it after the symptoms begin, it's too late.

nvrspyx · on Nov 25, 2022

> A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious or malignant disease.

While most are prophylactic, it's not a requirement to be considered a vaccine. Vaccines are not "meant to prevent a disease". They're meant to provide immunity to the disease, whether that be before (prophylactic/prevention) or during (therapeutic/treatment).

asadotzler · on Nov 25, 2022

Web search for "therapeutic vaccines." You're missing about half the picture.

satvikpendem · on Nov 25, 2022

You are conflating your personal definition with the medical world's.

irjustin · on Nov 25, 2022

But before symptoms you still have it so it's not only for preventing disease.

Vaccines are used to teach/modify your immune system to fight something. Whether you have it or not is not part of the definition[0].

[0] a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.

lkrubner · on Nov 25, 2022

These are vaccines. They train the immune system to respond a particular way to particular proteins: that is a vaccine, full stop.

thallium205 · on Nov 25, 2022

[flagged]

refurb · on Nov 25, 2022

That's not true. They are therapeutics are reviewed the same as drugs. The FDA's vaccine division does not review these therapies.

bawolff · on Nov 25, 2022

This seems straight up false.