Understanding the different technologies used to create vaccines, from traditional approaches to cutting-edge mRNA platforms.
Vaccine platforms refer to the underlying technology or method used to develop a vaccine. Different platforms offer various advantages and disadvantages in terms of development speed, manufacturing, efficacy, and storage requirements. Understanding these platforms helps contextualize how vaccines work and why some may be better suited for certain populations or diseases.
Messenger RNA vaccines deliver genetic instructions for cells to produce a viral protein, triggering an immune response. No live virus is involved.
Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax) for COVID-19
Rapid development, strong efficacy, no live virus
Use a harmless virus to deliver genetic material for a target pathogen's protein into cells.
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines; Ebola vaccine
Strong immune response, single dose option, established platform
Contain purified pieces of the pathogen (proteins) rather than whole germ. Often combined with adjuvants.
Novavax (COVID-19), Hepatitis B, HPV, Shingrix
Well-established, safe for immunocompromised, stable storage
Use weakened (attenuated) form of the live virus or bacteria that can still replicate but causes no disease.
MMR, Varicella, Rotavirus, Nasal flu (FluMist), Oral polio (OPV)
Strong, long-lasting immunity, often single dose
Use killed version of the virus or bacteria that cannot cause disease but still triggers immune response.
IPV (polio), Hepatitis A, Rabies, some flu vaccines
Safe for immunocompromised, stable, well-established
Non-infectious particles that mimic the structure of viruses without genetic material.
HPV vaccines (Gardasil, Cervarix), Hepatitis E vaccine
High safety profile, no infection risk, strong immune response