By 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the vaccine be used widely throughout Latin America and Europe. Ultimately, the FDA allowed the use of the vaccine in the United States after initial misgivings. The processes leading to these agency approvals are explained at length by Dr. Richard Ward.
WHO recommends that rotavirus vaccine for infants should be included in all national immunization programs. In countries where diarrheal deaths account for over 10% of mortality among children aged 5 years or younger, the introduction of the vaccine is strongly recommended. WHO recommends that the first dose of either RotaTeq or Rotarix be administered at age 6–15 weeks. The maximum age for administering the last dose of either vaccine should be 32 weeks. 2)
Dead Ends to Somewhere is a very detailed delineation of the scientific career
of Dr. Richard Ward. The presentation has many anecdotes and specific
references to failures and successes in order to provide the reader with a fair delineation as to how success was attained.
The story of Dr. Richard Ward is easy to read. The details of his experiences
in academe will result in empathy from readers , as well as a keen understanding of the inner workings of academic institutions, drug manufacturers and the drug approval process itself. An aspiring academic researcher could learn much from reading this book.
1. http://www.drugs.com/pro/rotarix.html
2. http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/rotavirus/en/index.html
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