Vaccines have long been our greatest defence in public health. As we confront new global challenges, the latest vaccine technology is central to a preventative approach to healthcare.

Over the past five decades, vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives, according to the World Health Organization. Diseases like smallpox have been eradicated, and polio is on the brink of elimination, thanks to widespread immunisation efforts.

Vaccine innovation unlocks global health

Ensuring new vaccine technologies can keep up with the challenges presented by ageing populations, climate change and the emergence of new infectious diseases must be central to how our healthcare systems respond.

According to research by the Office of Health Economics earlier this year, adult vaccination programmes can return up to 19 times their initial investment. An approach that looks to first prevent disease should, by definition, include the implementation of successful immunisation campaigns. It should also go hand in hand with fostering an environment that supports the development of new vaccine technologies.

Vaccine technology is evolving rapidly. Companies aim to broaden disease protection, extend immunity and develop more accessible vaccine formulations and administration methods (such as patch-based vaccines) that make vaccination easier for patients and healthcare systems.

The role of different vaccine technologies

Vaccine technology continues to evolve alongside the science. Various vaccine platforms can more effectively target a range of diseases and enhance future protection against diverse pathogens. To combat COVID-19, various vaccine technologies were successful in providing effective protection against the virus, including mRNA technology, which was used successfully for the first time.

Different vaccines can also improve protection in settings with diverse healthcare infrastructure and resources; help address vaccine hesitancy; and, during pandemics, offer a variety of vaccines to ensure all populations can be quickly protected against a virus.

To ensure that our immunisation approach can keep pace with the evolving nature of disease, it’s important that we support the continued development of different vaccine technologies. A commitment to science and research at a global, regional and national level is essential to achieving this. The pharmaceutical industry will continue to invest in the next generation of vaccines to do just that.

This blog was originally published by Media Planet for the “Future of Healthcare” campaign on 11 December 2024.

Author

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  Paula Barbosa Associate Director, Vaccines Policy p.barbosa@ifpma.org