"Some of the more common extraterrestrial--used in the literal sense, as in not of Terra--bacterial and viral infectious agents that humans haven't been exposed to. It's an unfortunate side-effect of being in an enclosed environment with a crew spanning dozens of species. The benefits are far more numerous, but I could do without the Andorian shingles."
Julian tends to talk rather a lot, if Peter hasn't noticed that by now.
"It works like any other vaccination--using inert or harmless strains of the microorganisms to cause your immune system to build up antibodies for the specific agents. We've just streamlined the process considerably over the last century or so."
Julian is scanning the whole time he's talking, making sure that everything is going as intended.
"And there's also the fact that we've eliminated quite a number of diseases since the 21st century, and reintroducing them could cause...well, significant upset would be putting it mildly. That's what necessitates the antibiotics. You might be a carrier for something that's causing absolutely no harm to you, but should it be transmitted to me, for example, could kill me because I would have no immunity to it."
no subject
Julian tends to talk rather a lot, if Peter hasn't noticed that by now.
"It works like any other vaccination--using inert or harmless strains of the microorganisms to cause your immune system to build up antibodies for the specific agents. We've just streamlined the process considerably over the last century or so."
Julian is scanning the whole time he's talking, making sure that everything is going as intended.
"And there's also the fact that we've eliminated quite a number of diseases since the 21st century, and reintroducing them could cause...well, significant upset would be putting it mildly. That's what necessitates the antibiotics. You might be a carrier for something that's causing absolutely no harm to you, but should it be transmitted to me, for example, could kill me because I would have no immunity to it."