Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the urgent need for rapid and effective vaccine development. Recent innovations such as mRNA, viral vector, and protein subunit platforms have transformed the vaccine landscape, improving both efficacy and safety. Methodology: This paper reviews emerging vaccine technologies and highlights specific innovations like the Multi-Epitope Vaccine (MEV) developed by Man et al. (2021) for schistosomiasis. It also explores the role of immunoinformatic in accelerating the identification of vaccine candidates. Results: Evidence shows that while traditional childhood vaccines have greatly reduced mortality (CDC, 1999), the cost-benefit balance of newer vaccines targeting chronic or rare diseases (e.g., cancer) remains debatable. Nevertheless, advances in microbiology and immunology are contributing to more targeted and efficient vaccine development. Conclusion: Technological advancements in vaccine development are crucial to reducing the global disease burden. These innovations may also enhance public trust by improving vaccine safety and efficacy, thereby addressing vaccine hesitancy and supporting global health goals.

Keywords: Vaccine technology, Infectious diseases, Vaccine development, Public health, Vaccine efficacy, Vaccine hesitancy