What Happened to Vaccinations?
Vaccinations continue to be a cornerstone of global public health, with ongoing efforts to improve routine immunization coverage and combat resurgent diseases like measles. The post-COVID-19 era has seen an accelerated expansion of mRNA technology beyond infectious diseases into areas like cancer and autoimmune disorders, alongside significant advancements in vaccines for RSV, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Quick Answer
Vaccinations are experiencing a period of rapid innovation and evolving public health challenges as of May 2026. mRNA technology, proven effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now being extensively applied to develop vaccines for cancer, HIV, and other infectious diseases. While global routine immunization rates remain steady at around 85%, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles are a growing concern in some regions due to declining coverage. Significant progress is also being made in rolling out malaria vaccines in Africa and developing new vaccines for RSV and tuberculosis.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
First RSV Vaccines Approved for Older Adults
GSK's Arexvy and Pfizer's Abrysvo receive FDA approval for the prevention of RSV in adults aged 60 and older.
Abrysvo Approved for Maternal RSV Vaccination
Pfizer's Abrysvo is approved for use in pregnant individuals to prevent RSV lower respiratory tract disease in infants.
Cameroon Launches Routine Malaria Vaccination
Cameroon becomes the first country to launch the WHO-recommended malaria vaccine (RTS,S) as part of its routine immunization program.
Moderna's RSV Vaccine mRESVIA Approved
Moderna receives FDA approval for its mRNA-based RSV vaccine, mRESVIA, for adults aged 60 and older.
Global DTP3 Coverage Remains 85%, Measles Below Target
WHO and UNICEF report that global DTP3 vaccination coverage held steady at 85% in 2024, but 14.3 million children missed all basic vaccines. Measles coverage was 84%, below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.
Major Resurgence of Measles in the US
The United States experiences its largest measles resurgence since 1992, with 2,288 confirmed cases and 49 outbreaks reported across 45 jurisdictions.
RNA Cancer Vaccines Show Breakthroughs in Clinical Trials
RNA-based cancer vaccines demonstrate unprecedented clinical advances, with personalized mRNA vaccines showing significant efficacy in melanoma, pancreatic, and brain cancer treatments.
FDA Grants Full Approval for Omicron-Adapted COVID-19 Vaccines
The FDA grants full approval for three Omicron-adapted mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and an Omicron-adapted protein subunit vaccine.
Controversial US Childhood Vaccine Schedule Reduction Blocked
A memo reducing the recommended US childhood vaccine schedule is issued without ACIP involvement, but is subsequently blocked, reverting to the pre-January 2026 schedule.
Malaria Vaccines Rolled Out in 25 African Countries
As of this date, over 39 million doses of malaria vaccines have been delivered to 25 endemic countries in Africa, with Gavi support.
GSK's Arexvy RSV Vaccine Approved for Younger At-Risk Adults
GSK's RSV vaccine, Arexvy, receives expanded FDA approval for adults aged 18 to 49 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease.
CDC Reports 2024-25 Healthcare Worker Vaccination Rates
The CDC reports that flu vaccination coverage among healthcare workers for the 2024-25 season was 76.3%, while COVID-19 vaccination coverage was 40.2%.
US Measles Cases Continue to Rise in 2026
As of this date, 1,983 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the United States in 2026, with 30 new outbreaks, continuing the trend from 2025.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The landscape of vaccinations in 2026 is characterized by both remarkable scientific advancements and persistent public health hurdles. The success of mRNA technology during the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally reshaped vaccine development, propelling its application far beyond infectious diseases. Researchers are now leveraging mRNA platforms for personalized cancer immunotherapies, showing promising results in melanoma, pancreatic, and brain cancers, with some trials anticipating regulatory submissions by 2026. This technology is also being explored for HIV, RSV, influenza, Zika, Nipah viruses, autoimmune diseases, and even rare genetic disorders, offering unprecedented speed and flexibility in therapeutic development.
Globally, efforts to combat long-standing infectious diseases have seen significant breakthroughs. The rollout of malaria vaccines (RTS,S and R21) in Africa has expanded rapidly since 2024, with over 39 million doses delivered to 25 endemic countries by January 2026, protecting millions of children and demonstrating a notable reduction in malaria illnesses and child mortality. New tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidates, such as M72/AS01E and MTBVAC, are in late-stage clinical trials, offering hope for more effective protection for adolescents and adults, a critical step given that TB remains a leading infectious killer. Additionally, RSV vaccines have seen expanded FDA approvals, now available for adults aged 60 and older, and for at-risk adults aged 18-49, with maternal vaccination also recommended to protect infants.
Despite these scientific triumphs, challenges in routine immunization persist. Global coverage for the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP3) vaccine, a key indicator, stood at 85% in 2024. However, 14.3 million children worldwide missed out on any vaccination, highlighting significant 'zero-dose' populations, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. This uneven coverage has contributed to a concerning resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. The United States, for instance, experienced a major measles outbreak in 2025-2026, with thousands of confirmed cases and dozens of outbreaks, raising fears that the country could lose its measles elimination status. This resurgence is largely attributed to declining childhood vaccination rates and increased vaccine hesitancy.
Policy debates surrounding vaccination also continue. In early 2026, a controversial memo in the US temporarily reduced the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, a move that was later blocked, restoring the pre-January 2026 recommendations. This event underscored the ongoing tension between evidence-based public health guidelines and political interference. The future of vaccines is also being shaped by technological innovations like needle-free patch vaccines, expected to be widely available by 2026-2028, and the increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate vaccine design and manufacturing. These developments promise to enhance vaccine accessibility, stability, and efficacy, but addressing vaccine hesitancy and ensuring equitable global distribution remain critical priorities for public health in the coming years.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Vaccinations made different choices?