The benefits of vaccinating babies and children against 13 infectious diseases are well established. Older adults can also protect their health with annual shots against the flu, covid, and pneumonia as well as shingles and RSV. But now the vaccine list is exploding.

New technology has opened the pathway for developing vaccines to counter parasites, bacterial superbugs, and chronic diseases, as well as viruses. Now we can even fight cancer and diabetes with genetically enhanced shots. And AI tools have shortened the development time to months instead of years.

The success of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology was a key factor in combatting the covid pandemic, despite only providing partial immunity in early versions. Subsequent improvement in mRNA vaxes worked against malaria, zika, tuberculosis and HIV. These shots have been a godsend when dealing with diseases and infections that are difficult to treat with medication.

During the covid pandemic, vaccine hesitancy swelled to virulent anti-vax sentiment as shots were rushed to market and governments made them mandatory. No doubt a number of individuals were harmed by these campaigns, but many millions, possibly billions, were saved. In the years that followed, not only were the vaccines refined and thoroughly tested, but long-term data proved their efficacy.

The versatility of mRNA to create personalized vaccines, like using a patient’s own tumor cells to program an immune response, and destroy them, has revolutionized medical practice and healthcare globally. Now the tide has turned, and we’re all happily lining up to get our shots. Making the data fully transparent and admitting past mistakes has helped the health authorities win over the skeptics.

The pharma giants are smiling again, and promising future cures for all kinds of hereditary and acquired illnesses. And America has become the vaccination nation.

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As we imagine the future of health and wellness over the next decade, seismic shifts to true outcomes-based care, advanced biotech interventions, and transparent patient data usage will hopefully become the norm. These positive developments are made possible by the utilization of game-changing technologies, often from adjacent industries, and applied to specific patient challenges and use cases. Futureworld are experts at identifying these innovation disruption points as industries, new technology, and societal changes converge. For more information around this topic please contact Futureworld Principal Matt Lawlor or Mindbullets editor Doug Vining.