mRNA Vaccines: Immunology and Present and Future Potential

Vaccines are powerful healthcare technologies designed to protect people from pathogens that cause infection and severe disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines comprising messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) made their public health debut and were essential for combating the outbreak. While these mRNA vaccines were new to the general public, they were actually in development for many decades. This chapter provides a brief overview of how the immune system works and how the mRNA vaccine interacts with it to develop protective immunity. The composition of the mRNA vaccine and the steps in its development are discussed. The mechanism of action is also detailed. The outlook for mRNA vaccines is discussed, highlighting applications that go far beyond COVID-19.