Vaccines as Technology : Innovation, Barriers, and the Public Health

Since the pandemic, we have all become more aware of the mechanisms of vaccine development and distribution, and interested in how it could be improved. This book explains the legal and policy issues for a non-specialist readership, covering key problems in vaccine regulation, patents, technology transfer, and international relations.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a powerful wake-up call, highlighting our collective need for the effective development and equitable distribution of new vaccines, in addition to widespread administration of existing ones. The current models of production and allocation of vaccines against emerging pathogens, which rely on predominantly market-driven mechanisms, are largely at odds with public health needs. This book is the first to explore the entire arc of vaccine development and distribution, from the decisions about allocation of vaccine R&D money to allocation and administration of vaccines resulting from the R&D process. It explains key concepts and problems in vaccine regulation, intellectual property, technology transfer, and international relations, making complex material accessible to a non-specialist audience. Analyzing the impact of COVID-19, the book also covers several other vaccine races, as well as future directions in vaccine development and allocation.