Anticipating the Next Pandemic

Reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic, this Perspective outlines biomedical and ethical priorities for anticipating future pandemics. It highlights lessons on vaccine innovation, gaps in vaccine distribution, and the need for public trust, culminating in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ $5 billion Project NextGen. This initiative aims to develop next-generation Covid-19 vaccines with enhanced durability, mucosal immunity, and safety profiles, while identifying correlates of protection and sustainable manufacturing methods. The article discusses vaccine platform diversity, such as samRNA and viral vectors, immune mechanisms (including memory T-cell responses), and the logistical challenges of rapid scale-up. It advocates for preparedness research during interpandemic periods and emphasizes building vaccine confidence as a moral and strategic priority.

Reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic, this Perspective outlines biomedical and ethical priorities for anticipating future pandemics. It highlights lessons on vaccine innovation, gaps in vaccine distribution, and the need for public trust, culminating in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ $5 billion Project NextGen. This initiative aims to develop next-generation Covid-19 vaccines with enhanced durability, mucosal immunity, and safety profiles, while identifying correlates of protection and sustainable manufacturing methods. The article discusses vaccine platform diversity, such as samRNA and viral vectors, immune mechanisms (including memory T-cell responses), and the logistical challenges of rapid scale-up. It advocates for preparedness research during interpandemic periods and emphasizes building vaccine confidence as a moral and strategic priority.