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... What began as a tool to fight Covid-19 could become a platform for treating a much wider range of diseases.
After billions of doses were administered worldwide, one of the most comprehensive reviews of mRNA vaccines to date concludes the technology is safe and highly effective, while showing promise far beyond Covid-19.
The review, published Tuesday in The Lancet, analyzed laboratory research, clinical trials and real-world data spanning the development, testing and monitoring of mRNA vaccines.
Researchers say the technology has proven highly effective at preventing severe infectious disease and could pave the way for new vaccines and treatments targeting illnesses ranging from influenza and RSV to cancer.
"After billions of doses, we now have an extraordinary amount of scientific evidence," said lead author Anna Blakney, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia's Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering, in a news release.
"This review affirms that mRNA vaccines are a safe and highly effective platform, supported by rigorous testing and real-world monitoring. It provides an evidence-based foundation as this technology continues to expand into new areas of medicine," she said.
The researchers found that serious side effects are rare and are outweighed by the vaccines' protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death.
The scientists noted that myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, occurs more frequently among younger males than other groups, but found the condition to be uncommon overall.
They also said the vaccines continued to provide strong protection across a wide range of populations, including children, pregnant people and those who are immunocompromised. Booster doses extended that protection over time, while updated vaccine formulations remained effective as new Covid-19 variants emerged.
The review also addresses several misconceptions that have persisted since mRNA vaccines were first introduced during the pandemic. ...
