Publication date: Apr 20, 2026
The development of the smallpox vaccine two centuries ago laid the foundation for modern vaccinology. Smallpox, once a major killer in human history, was eradicated globally in 1980. This breakthrough encouraged the development of contemporary vaccine technologies, including inactivated, recombinant, viral vector, and mRNA platforms. Owing to developments in genetics, bioinformatics, and molecular biology, personalised vaccines have been made possible. Advances in the field of immunology facilitated an accelerated response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This perspective synthesises key developments and technological advances in the field of global immunisation. The author sheds light on emerging tools, transformative platforms, and long-term directions in vaccine science research.