Vaccine development for emerging infectious diseases

Examination of the vaccine strategies and technical platforms used for the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of those used for previous emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and pandemics may offer some mutually beneficial lessons. The unprecedented scale and rapidity of dissemination of recent emerging infectious diseases pose new challenges for vaccine developers, regulators, health authorities and political constituencies. Vaccine manufacturing and distribution are complex and challenging. While speed is essential, clinical development to emergency use authorization and licensure, pharmacovigilance of vaccine safety and surveillance of virus variants are also critical. Access to vaccines and vaccination needs to be prioritized in low- and middle-income countries. The combination of these factors will weigh heavily on the ultimate success of efforts to bring the current and any future emerging infectious disease pandemics to a close. Examination of the vaccine strategies and technical platforms used for the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of those used for previous emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and pandemics can offer critical lessons to prepare for future public health emergencies.

Automated summary

Studies on COVID-19 vaccination strategies in comparison to previous infectious diseases offer critical lessons for future public health emergencies. The unprecedented scale and rapid spread of emerging infectious diseases present new challenges for vaccine development and distribution. Prioritizing access to vaccines in low- and middle-income countries, along with close monitoring of vaccine safety and virus variants, will be crucial for the success of pandemic control efforts.