How medicines work

Activity

Vaccination can play an important part in controlling and even eradicating endemic diseases. An endemic disease is one where the disease, or the pathogen, is always present in an environment (eg chicken pox in UK school children, tuberculosis in the Indian sub-continent and malaria in regions of Africa).

Smallpox is an example of a once deadly disease that no longer exists, thanks at least in part to vaccination. Polio is another disease, once endemic across the world, which now only exists in a tiny number of countries. Polio vaccination programmes are playing an important part in the control of this disease.

EITHER: Investigate the role of vaccines in the eradication of smallpox. Present your findings, making them accessible and interesting to the widest possible audience whilst retaining scientific rigour.

OR Investigate the attempts to rid the world of polio using vaccines. Present your findings, making them accessible and interesting to the widest possible audience whilst retaining scientific rigour.