Opportunities, Challenges in Translational Vaccine Research: Lesson Learnt from Vaccine Development During the CoVID-19 Pandemic

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been prevalent globally, triggering an urge to develop a vaccine. Previous research efforts for vaccine development for SARS-CoV can be useful to design vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. Different types of vaccine technologies presently being investigated include whole virus, nucleic acid, and recombinant protein subunit vaccines. Since every vaccine approach has its own share of advantages and disadvantages, multiple approaches need to be evaluated rapidly for safety and efficacy. Cues for vaccine design against SARS-CoV-2 can be obtained by leveraging the existing immunological studies of SARS-CoV [1]. Experiences with previous vaccine development programs such as those for H1N1 have stressed the need for novel development technologies (NGS, reverse genetics) and manufacturing platforms that can be readily adapted to new pathogens by testing prototype pathogens from various viral families [2].