Time and time again, when the world has faced its most dangerous epidemics, its hero has come in the form of a needle and a vial.

From polio to measles to smallpox, countless scientists and researchers have found the solution. The CDC estimates that, among children born in the last 20 years, vaccines will prevent more than 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths.

Developing, testing and rolling out a new vaccination is no easy task. This lengthy and complex process is often frustrating in the midst of an epidemic. Pressure mounts when a vaccine is needed right at the moment, rather than sometime in the future.

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The smallpox vaccine is credited to English doctor Edward Jenner.

His reputation is well-earned, as he studied the disease and ways to prevent it for decades.

Jenner first used his vaccine by exposing an eight-year-old boy to a cowpox-infected needle. Although the boy suffered some symptoms from the cowpox, he was immune to smallpox.

But, a man tried this method years earlier despite spending his life trying to eradicate something far different: witches.

Cotton Mather was a popular minister and scholar in late 17th century Boston. The son of Increase Mather, another prominent minister, the duo were well-known advocates for the Salem witch trials.

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A new study found that military personnel who were taught to give themselves nasal spray flu vaccinations had the same level of immunity as those who were given the vaccine by health professionals.

This is a huge step forward for MedImmune’s nasal spray vaccine, which is the preferred method of vaccination for most healthy kids aged two to eight years. However, don’t expect to be giving it to your own child anytime soon. The nasal spray may be (relatively) easy to administer, but there are still some risk factors involved.

“It’s a very interesting concept and I can definitely see some benefits” says Dr. Jonathan Temte who heads a panel that advises the CDC on vaccine policy. “Before anyone could endorse this in children, one would have to have an appropriately designed study that shows equal efficacy, equal safety, and then the acceptability.”

In this case, safety is key. Self-vaccination isn’t as easy as it sounds, and vaccinating children is more of a science than simply spraying something up their noses. While everyone over six months old should get a flu shot, according to the CDC, special vaccination guidelines apply to children when they receive their first vaccination, and medical history should always be reviewed before a vaccine is administered.

The nasal vaccine is also a little trickier to apply than a nasal spray you might be accustomed to using for allergies, for example. Health workers that administer the vaccine need to be sure that it has fully entered the nose and that children, and parents too, don’t squirt it out of their nose.

Whether self-vaccination will become something more common in the future is unknown due to regulatory guidelines and a lack of testing, and, as Dr. Temte put it, we are still a long way from anything definitive. However, the topic is certainly an interesting one.

So, we want to hear from you! Would you vaccinate yourself, or would you prefer the help of a professional? Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know what you would choose to do!

We all know what to look for with a phony advertisement.

Whether it’s a pop-up guaranteeing dangerously fast weight loss or an email with a scheme to make millions quick, the signs are obvious.

But, what about a fake cure?

Most fake cures seem obvious. There’s no way violin music or charcoal powder can remedy a disease.

But, when diseases like Zika and Ebola spread, it’s harder to ignore a possible lifesaver.

Just because the ailment is different does not mean the authenticity is any better. Here are five dangerous fake cures to stay away from while planning your trip:

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Millions of people get the flu shot every year.

One of the most frequently asked questions is, “Why do I need to have the flu shot each year?” There’s also the question of, “Why isn’t it available in a few doses like other vaccines?”

Let’s take a closer look at available scientific research to address these questions.

The influenza virus is easily transmitted between people, and creates the possibility of a much worse disease to develop. The flu shot is a vital weapon to protect the population from this highly contagious virus.

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