Vaccine Research and Development

Vaccine research and development involves identifying a pathogen, understanding how it causes disease, and then designing a vaccine that stimulates the immune system to recognize and fight it. The process includes laboratory studies, preclinical tests on animals, and multiple phases of human clinical trials to assess safety, dosage, and effectiveness. Once proven effective, regulatory agencies review the data before approving the vaccine for public use. This rigorous process ensures vaccines are both safe and effective in preventing disease, often taking several years, though rapid development can occur during urgent health crises.