The major attractions of vaccines based on viral carriers (vectors) include their immunogenicity without adjuvant and the relative simplicity of their associated production processes in comparison with recombinant protein-based approaches. Two influenza virosomal vaccines - for influenza and hepatitis A - are registered for human use, and the virosome platform is being evaluated as the carrier for a Plasmodium falciparum vaccine that targets both the exo-erythrocytic and erythrocytic stages. Although safe and immunogenic, the first such virosome-based malaria vaccine showed no protection in a Phase IIa clinical trial. Nevertheless, the established safety profile of virosomes and their flexibility with regard to antigen delivery - allowing for antibody induction via the conjugation of peptides and T-cell induction via encapsulation - indicate that they warrant further exploration.