Vaccines represent one of the most important advances in science and medicine, helping people around the world in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. However, there are still gaps in vaccination programs in many countries. Out of 11.2 million children born in EU region, more than 500,000 infants did not receive the complete three-dose series of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine before the first birthday. Data shows that there were more than 30,000 measles cases in the European region in recent years, and measles cases are rising in the USA. There are about 20 million children in the world still not getting adequate coverage of basic vaccines. Emerging infectious diseases such as malaria, Ebola virus disease, and Zika virus disease also threaten public health around the world. This chapter provides an overview of recent advances in vaccine development and technologies, manufacturing, characterization of various vaccines, challenges, and strategies in vaccine clinical development. It also provides an overview of recently approved major vaccines for human use.
Keywords: Characterization; Dengue vaccine; Ebola vaccine; Recombinant technology; Shingles vaccine; Vaccine clinical trials; Vaccine development; Vaccine manufacturing; Viral vaccine.