Technological approaches to streamline vaccination schedules, progressing towards single-dose vaccines

Abstract

Vaccines represent the most successful medical intervention in history, with billions of lives saved. Although multiple doses of the same vaccine are typically required to reach an adequate level of protection, it would be advantageous to develop vaccines that induce protective immunity with fewer doses, ideally just one. Single-dose vaccines would be ideal to maximize vaccination coverage, help stakeholders to greatly reduce the costs associated with vaccination, and improve patient convenience. Here we describe past attempts to develop potent single dose vaccines and explore the reasons they failed. Then, we review key immunological mechanisms of the vaccine-specific immune responses, and how innovative technologies and approaches are guiding the preclinical and clinical development of potent single-dose vaccines. By modulating the spatio-temporal delivery of the vaccine components, by providing the appropriate stimuli to the innate immunity, and by designing better antigens, the new technologies and approaches leverage our current knowledge of the immune system and may synergize to enable the rational design of next-generation vaccination strategies. This review provides a rational perspective on the possible development of future single-dose vaccines.

Looking beyond COVID-19 vaccine phase 3 trials

“…Sinovac found that, for their whole-inactivated virus (WIV) vaccine, extending the COVID-19 vaccine dosing interval from 2 to 4 weeks might have improved neutralizing antibody titers 12 . Although closer spacing of doses might be advantageous during an outbreak, optimizing the schedule for magnitude and durability of induced responses might potentially make future COVID-19 vaccine campaigns more practical because they allow national programs time to plan and execute more effectively 29,30 .…”

Recent Development of Ruminant Vaccine Against Viral Diseases

“…Subunit vaccines include a component of the target pathogen which evoke an immune reaction that is unique to that section ( 122 ). While baculovirus-expressed Rinderpest virus (RPV) “H” and “F” proteins were used as antigens for subunit vaccines, they did not provide protection in cattle against virulent RPV despite eliciting a robust neutralizing antibody response ( 123 ).…”

Strategies to Overcome the Barrier of Ischemic Microenvironment in Cell Therapy of Cardiovascular Disease

“…The development of encapsulation techniques for target orientated drug delivery to organs and delayed relief of drug agents have also influenced the field of cell and gene therapy during the last two decades [ 34 , 35 ]. However, cell products for the treatment of PAD or critical limb ischemia have demonstrated only modest results or failed in clinical studies due to poor cell retention within the ischemic microenvironment [ 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”