ImmunoVida: A Recombinant Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine for Latin America;The Paradox of Injectable Biomaterials 75 views

The ImmunoVida influenza vaccine represents modern vaccine engineering through a sophisticated production process. This recombinant quadrivalent vaccine utilizes baculovirus-infected insect cells to produce HA antigens, which undergo an extensive purification train including dual centrifugation, ion exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration, diafiltration, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and viral filtration before aseptic filling into single-dose vials. Each manufacturing step adheres to strict quality control protocols to ensure safety, purity, and efficacy standards required by regulatory authorities. Despite this scientific rigor, vaccines increasingly face public hesitancy and mistrust. Concurrently, research into injectable biomaterial perceptions reveals that aesthetic injectables such as dermal fillers, botox, and weight-loss drugs experience growing popularity and social normalization despite their associated risks. This contrast represents a significant paradox in how society evaluates different types of injectable biomaterials. Analysis through literature review and Actor-Network Theory suggests multiple factors contribute to this discrepancy: the visibility of aesthetic results versus the invisibility of vaccine protection; the amplification of personal testimonials by social media algorithms; shifting trust dynamics that favor influencer experiences over scientific expertise; and asymmetrical risk communication that minimizes aesthetic complications while magnifying potential vaccine side effects. The confluence of these technical and social analyses indicates a broader shift in societal values where individual appearance enhancement receives prioritization over collective public health measures. This observation has implications for how technical information is communicated to the public and how regulatory approaches might need adaptation to address evolving perceptions of risk across different injectable biotechnologies.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

injectables; recombinant vaccine; filler

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Technical Advisor: Eric Anderson STS Advisor: Karina Rider Technical Team Members: Michelle Harnisch, Diana Kirilov, Mia Holbrook

English

2025-05-08