Children exposed to second-hand smoke often show respiratory diseases, including bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma exacerbation, and middle ear infections. In developed countries, approximately 85 million children each year are exposed to second-hand smoke in the home. In developing countries, approximately 625 million children are exposed.

Currently, the death and disease caused by tobacco use results in an annual global loss of 200 billion US dollars. With new and improved products the smoking control market is anticipated to become a rapidly growing market.

Even though the use of tobacco is associated with serious and well-known health risks, many people who want to give up smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products find it very difficult to succeed. An estimated 70% of smokers in the US want to quit, but only 2.5% per year succeed in quitting permanently. Smoking cessation is difficult to achieve due to the addictive properties of nicotine and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, lack of concentration, weight gain and nicotine craving.

Vaccines against tobacco use and nicotine addiction could help at least three groups of smokers and previous smokers.

Vaccines against nicotine are a novel concept in the field of smoking cessation research and are currently in clinical testing.

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