Table 2. Pros and cons of different vaccine formulations and examples of licensed vaccines.
| Vaccine platforms | Pros | Cons | Examples of licensed vaccines
targeted for humans |
|---|---|---|---|
| RNA | • Potential low-cost
manufacturing • Ease of manufacturing • Good safety profile |
• May have low immunogenicity
due to instability • May require multiple doses |
- |
| DNA | • Potential low-cost
manufacturing • Ease of manufacturing • Good safety profile • Good stability • Does not induce anti-vector immunity |
• Potential integration to human
genome • Low immunogenicity |
- |
|
Virus vectors
(replicating/non- replicating viral vectors and virus-like particles) |
• High-efficiency gene
transduction • High specific delivery of genes to target cells • Induction of robust immune responses • Increased cellular immunity |
• Low titer production
• May induce anti-vector immunity • Generation of replication- competent virus, which can induce tumorigenesis |
• JYNNEOS (Smallpox/
Monkeypox) • ACAM2000 (Smallpox) • Adenovirus type 4 and type 7 vaccine, live, oral (febrile acute respiratory) |
| Inactivated | • Good safety profile
• Can be used in immunocompromised patients |
• Requires booster doses
• Low production titer |
• Poliovax (Polio)
• Flucelvax Quadrivalent (Influenza) • Ixiaro (Japanese Encephalitis) • Imovax (Rabies) |
| Live attenuated virus | • High potency
• Triggers long-lasting immunity • Low-cost manufacturing |
• Possible regression to virulence
strain • Limited use in immunocompromised patients |
• ERVEBO (Ebola virus)
• MMR II (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) • BCG vaccine (Tuberculosis) |
| Protein subunit | • Can be used in
immunocompromised patients • Good safety profile |
• Low immunogenicity
• Conjugation could lead to batch-wise variation |
• PedvaxHIB
( Haemophilus influenzae type b) • Engerix-B (Hepatitis B) • Recombivax HB (Hepatitis B) |