Question

Why is immunity to the common cold so hard to develop either naturally or through vaccines?

Answer 1

Immunity response of our body is by producing antibodies to a specific pathogen and attacking it and destroying it. In case of vaccination we introduce heat killed pathogen into the body. So antibodies are formed against these pathogen and if an attack by the viable pathogen occurs these formed antibodies attack the pathogen.

In case of common cold virus the antibodies are formed against the inner part of the virus instead of forming antibodies against viral envelope. The viral envelope is attached to the mucosal membrane and viral attack starts. But the antibodies are not formed against this viral envelope. Only if antibodies are formed against these envelopes will provide an accurate immune response. But our system fails in identifying this part and to form antibodies against it. What our immune system is reapond by identifying a wrong part. That's why we cannot be able to become immune against the common cold