Strengthening vaccine development pipelines to combat emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance

Iwunwa, Mary-Gloria Chidiebere (2025) Strengthening vaccine development pipelines to combat emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 25 (2). pp. 694-714. ISSN 2581-9615

The rapid emergence of infectious diseases and the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) present critical challenges to global public health. Traditional vaccine development pipelines, while effective in past decades, often lack the agility and scalability required to address these evolving threats. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted both the vulnerabilities in current vaccine production systems and the transformative potential of innovations such as mRNA technology and platform-based vaccine designs. However, these advancements remain underutilized in combating other emerging infectious diseases and AMR. Strengthening vaccine development pipelines necessitates a multifaceted approach that integrates technological innovation, global collaboration, and regulatory agility. This paper explores strategies to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of vaccine development, focusing on the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for predictive modeling, the expansion of genomic surveillance to track pathogen evolution, and the development of universal vaccine platforms adaptable to multiple pathogens. Additionally, addressing AMR through vaccines targeting resistant bacterial strains can significantly reduce the reliance on antibiotics, mitigating the spread of resistance. Public-private partnerships, funding mechanisms, and global policy alignment play pivotal roles in accelerating vaccine research and ensuring equitable distribution. This study emphasizes the need for proactive preparedness, highlighting case studies of successful vaccine rollouts and identifying gaps in the current infrastructure. By fostering innovation and global cooperation, the vaccine development ecosystem can be fortified to swiftly respond to future pandemics and the growing AMR crisis.