It is quite evident that there are new methods in vaccine technology, especially in mRNA vaccines, Adenovirus vectors, and biomaterial-based platforms not seen in traditional vaccines. New technologies of this kind can contribute to solving some of the existing issues in vaccine development and distribution among people in need, which gives a rather optimistic outlook on the fight against current and potential epidemics.
There has been slight improvement in the mRNA vaccines, especially with the appearance of COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Contrary to the issue with traditional vaccines, mRNA delivers a set of instructions that help the body produce the virus’s proteins, according to Gebre et al. (2021). This basis adds to the speedy development, large production, and added modularity in creating a new variation of the vaccines. Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been positively received, and there is research using mRNA for influenza, HIV, and cancer.
Another promising technique is the adenovirus vector-based vaccine, which produces target antigens within modified viruses, eliciting both cellular and humoral immunity responses. These vaccines are less restrictive than conventional methods (Gebre et al., 2021) and have shown potential against challenging pathogens like HIV and Ebola. For instance, Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, based on the Ad26 vector, is a single-dose vaccine that doesn’t require extremely low temperatures for storage, unlike mRNA vaccines (Gebre et al., 2021).
Technology and pharmaceuticals are also being used extensively in the structure of vaccines, and today, biomaterials and engineering approaches are vital in the formulation of vaccines. In the paper by Gebre et al. (2021), the authors explain that such techniques permit control over antigen concentration, administration of more than one immune stimulus, and the rate of the antigen’s release. For instance, using nanoparticle-based platforms can increase the uptake of antigens by immune cells and region migration toward lymph nodes, possibly increasing the efficiency of vaccines. The polymer systems allow for the control of the rate of antigen delivery, which would, in turn, contribute to the establishment of long-lasting immune responses (Gebre et al., 2021).
Thus, these technological improvements are making new approaches to vaccination possible. For instance, scientists are using intranasal or oral vaccines to administer vaccines that can be useful to reinforce the mucosal barriers and provide efficient protection against hospitalized respiratory viruses (Gebre et al., 2021). Also, of interest is the development of new formulations and newer techniques that are lengthening the thermal stability of vaccines, therefore decreasing the strain of the cold chain in developing countries.
Moving forward, various innovations in vaccines are scheduled to fuel the possibilities for new vaccines for numerous diseases. Gebre et al. (2021) also report that, as illustrated in the COVID-19 crisis, platforms based on mRNA and vectors provide prospects to promptly address new diseases’ threats. Also, such technologies can address existing difficulties in creating vaccines for multifaceted viruses such as HIV, Tuberculosis, and malaria.
The developments in the design and fabrication of vaccines have immense ramifications as a discipline, more specifically in the field of public health. In the future, new vaccines that can be easily administered around the world should treat most pathological infections ranging from L & MICs. Moreover, the fast production of vaccines associated with incompletely recognized pathogens can hinder epidemics as dangerous as COVID-19. The existing approved vaccines utilize varied techniques such as the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna), viral vector vaccination (AstraZeneca, Johnson Johnson), and Biomaterials vaccine (Novavax). These innovations seek a quicker production process, an enhancement of CV, and efficient vaccine distribution. In the course of future research, other vaccines are likely to greatly improve world health by guarding against many types of infectious diseases. Here at HIA, we monitor the development of new vaccines and their uses within health systems. For example, we help many of our facilities track their employee COVID immunization data and report it to CMS. By working together to track and analyze new vaccine usage, we can continue the advancements towards protecting our community.
References
Gebre, M. S., Brito, L. A., Tostanoski, L. H., Edwards, D. K., Carfi, A., & Barouch, D. H. (2021). Novel approaches for vaccine development. Cell, 184(6), 1589-1603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.030
