Vaccinesthat help boost the immune system are an important public health strategy that protects againstinfections.
Despite efforts to make a vaccine for thecommon cold, one has yet to be developed.
Do We Need a Common Cold Vaccine?
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Each year, millions of people in the United States get the common cold.
Adults may have about two colds a year, while children tend to have more.
While it may be frustrating to have a cold, it rarely leads to serious issues.
Verywell / Kelly Miller
They tend to go away within seven to 10 days.
The common cold is not usually dangerous for the majority of people who get it.
Verywell / Kelly Miller
However, preventing the common cold is important.
A common cold vaccine could help those with lung issues, likeasthmaorchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
People with these lung conditions can have more severe symptoms when they develop a cold.
People who have compromised immune systems could also benefit from a common cold vaccine.
While there are challenges to developing a vaccine against the common cold, these challenges might not be insurmountable.
This means that one virus strain protects against other strains of the virus.
So far research has not found an effective way to create this particular vaccine.
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