The development of a vaccine is a complex and time-intensive process that usually takes many years. It all starts with research to identify the pathogen causing the disease and understanding how it affects the body's immune system. Researchers then identify the antigens, or parts of the pathogen that trigger an immune response.
Once an antigen has been identified, researchers begin designing the vaccine. This can be done in a number of ways, but most often involves using weakened or inactivated forms of the pathogen, or a genetically engineered version of the antigen.
Next, the vaccine undergoes preclinical testing in animals to determine its safety and efficacy. If the results are promising, the vaccine will move on to clinical trials.
Clinical trials are conducted in three phases, each involving progressively larger groups of human volunteers. Phase 1 trials involve a small number of healthy individuals and focus on safety. Phase 2 trials involve a larger group of people and continue to assess safety while also evaluating the vaccine's ability to produce an immune response. Phase 3 trials involve thousands of people and are designed to evaluate the vaccine's safety and efficacy in a real-world setting.
If the vaccine successfully completes all three phases of clinical trials and is shown to be safe and effective, it can be submitted to regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration for approval. Following approval, the vaccine can be manufactured and distributed to the general population.