With new vaccines safety is paramount

The human immune system is one of the most beautifully complex systems in the entire universe. The insane level of intricacy mystifies researchers to this day, and its elaborate nature may only be considered second to the miracle of the human brain. However, like all systems produced by the powerful but short-sighted eye of evolution, it is not 100 percent foolproof.

Given the ongoing international coronavirus emergency, the question of how vaccines for new viruses are produced has been prominent in discussions on the topic. A vaccine works by exposing the immune system to identify and fight off pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria. This recognition process occurs through training the immune system to recognize a type of protein called antigens, which are present on the surface of all viruses and bacteria. Certain molecules are therefore introduced to the body to provide an immune response.

Designing vaccines is complicated, and may take several months. It involves targeting the correct antigens that can trigger the immune system to do its work. Once these antigens are identified, work will then begin on testing this on animal models, to establish that they are both effective in their protection, and safe.

The next step is to run clinical trials in humans. If this is done safely and the expected immune response is triggered and provides protection, then the vaccine can be mass-produced for the general population. In the case of pandemics, priority is given to vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, who are most at risk. Older people and those with pre-existing health issues that could make them vulnerable will also be prioritized.

The crucial limiting factor is safety. Vaccinations for novel outbreaks such as the coronavirus can, in theory, be produced on more rapid timelines; however, evaluating their safety and effectiveness is time-consuming.

Peter Hotez, professor of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told Healthline: "You can only speed up clinical trials so much. In the end, these steps take time. So that's going to be a rate limiting step in determining whether there is going to be a vaccine available quickly."

Speeding up clinical trials is the holy grail for ensuring that vaccinations get to the frontline of an epidemic as fast as possible. One way of doing this is to run multiple clinical trials in parallel. Sharing information between countries and healthcare organizations as fast as possible is also paramount, as seen with the coronavirus, where an international collaborative effort is underway.

Pharmaceutical companies are also a major force behind driving innovation. However, this progress relies on the commercial situational nature of the disease in question. Large-scale funding normally occurs once a public health crisis has already begun. In the future, regulators, vaccine developers and stakeholders may all have to work together to provide a plan of development with more foresight.

In the world of business, the mere chance of a problem occurring in the future does not whet investors' appetites. This must change. A future where vaccines are stockpiled in case of an emergency would be a wise direction in which to go. Our densely packed global and mobile population means the risk of future unknown deadly diseases is greater than ever. We may find that societies of the future will be forced to change their attitudes to become more forward thinking sooner than we think.