Part two: Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read the following passages carefully. Each passage is followed by some questions. Complete each question with the most suitable choice (a, b, c, or d). Base your answers on the information given in the passage only.

Passage 1

'Vaccine hesitancy' is a relatively new term used in research over the past few years to describe anyone who is doubtful about vaccinations or who chooses to delay or refuse immunizations even when they are readily available. Although there are no federal laws in America regarding vaccine administration, each state has laws in place dictating which vaccinations are required for children prior to entering schools. All 50 states allow medical exemptions for certain patients, such as those who are immune compromised or allergic to various vaccine components. Additionally, there are 30 states that allow exemptions for children whose parents cite religious reasons and 18 states that make special accommodations for those expressing philosophical reasons. States that have more lenient laws on vaccination requirements also have an increased rate of exemptions granted; this can lead to greater vulnerability in the population in terms of contracting preventable diseases. There have been a number of studies examining the reasons why parents refuse, delay, or are hesitant to vaccinate their children. In one such study, 77% of parents polled reported having concerns about one or more childhood vaccinations. Reasons expressed by parents vary widely but can be classified into 4 overarching categories. These categories are religious reasons, personal beliefs or philosophical reasons, safety concerns, and a desire for more information from healthcare providers. To equip pharmacists and other healthcare providers with an understanding of the most heavily cited reasons that influence parents not to vaccinate their children is crucial. This will better enable healthcare personnel to provide the education and awareness that patients' families need to make responsible immunization choices.

Passage 2

Nanomedicine represents a growing field at the intersection of nanotechnology and medicine. One of the key applications of nanomedicine is in targeted drug delivery. Conventional drug delivery methods often suffer from limitations such as non-specific distribution, low bioavailability, and off-target effects. Nanoparticle- based drug delivery systems, however, can overcome these challenges by encapsulating drugs within biocompatible nanoparticles and guiding them to specific sites within the body. These nanoparticles can be engineered to target diseased tissues or cells, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. Moreover, nanomedicine holds promise for improving imaging techniques in medicine. Nanoparticles with imaging agents attached can serve as contrast agents for various imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and fluorescence imaging. These nanoparticles enable high-resolution imaging of biological structures and pathological changes, facilitating early detection and accurate diagnosis of diseases. Furthermore, nanomedicine offers opportunities for personalized medicine by tailoring treatments to individual patients based on their genetic makeup, physiological parameters, and disease characteristics. Nanoparticle-based diagnostics and therapeutics can be customized to target specific molecular signatures associated with particular diseases, enabling precise and effective interventions.