Vaccine Development Should Be Polytheistic, Not Monotheistic.

The article focuses on the need for a diversified approach to vaccine development beyond messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which, despite its success against COVID-19, has limitations such as rapid waning immunity, high production costs, and logistical challenges. It highlights that older vaccine platforms, including live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs), viral vectors, and adjuvanted protein vaccines, offer broader, more durable immune responses and greater stability, often with lower costs and simpler distribution requirements. The authors advocate for continued investment in multiple vaccine technologies to maximize complementary strengths, improve global access and equity, and enhance preparedness for future epidemics. They emphasize that no single vaccine platform is universally ideal, and a pluralistic, platform-agnostic strategy is essential for long-term infectious disease control.