Review urges targeted vaccines for labs, farms and One Health programs

A review in the Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity argues that vaccination works best when it is targeted to specific risks, from laboratory staff and agricultural workers to travelers and wildlife. The paper says tighter, updated vaccine strategies could reduce lab-acquired infections, block zoonotic spread and strengthen biosafety and biosecurity systems.

Why it matters: - Vaccines are a core tool for protecting laboratory workers, livestock, wildlife, and communities from disease spread. - Risk-based vaccination can lower laboratory-acquired infections, reduce zoonotic transmission, and improve outbreak control. - The review says gaps in vaccine access, guidance, and coverage still limit public health impact.

What happened: - A review published in the Journal of Biosafety and Biosecurity examined how vaccines fit into biosafety, biosecurity, and One Health programs. - The paper focuses on targeted vaccination for high-risk groups, including laboratory personnel, healthcare workers, agricultural workers, travelers, infants, and people in critical roles. - The review also addresses vaccines for domestic animals and wildlife.

The details: - Effective vaccination programs should start with risk assessment based on demographic and occupational factors. - Global health guidance is tailored to specific pathogens, the type of work performed, and the level of risk. - Vaccine recommendations are updated over time as guidance changes. - Modern vaccine platforms include live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, recombinant, and virus-like particle vaccines. - DNA and RNA vaccines can be produced quickly and at lower cost, and they use delivery systems such as nanoparticles. - Vaccination stimulates innate and adaptive immunity, including antibody responses and immunological memory. - Booster shots are needed for some vaccines because antibody protection can fade over time. - Herd immunity from mass vaccination can suppress disease spread. - Correlates of protection help measure vaccine effectiveness and guide development.

Between the lines: - The review argues that one-size-fits-all vaccination policies leave gaps in settings with higher exposure risk. - Laboratory biosafety depends on immunizing personnel against pathogens linked to inoculation, inhalation, ingestion, or mucosal exposure. - Biosafety levels 2 through 4 call for mandatory vaccination for personnel. - Underreporting of laboratory-acquired infections makes it harder to track risk and response. - Many high-risk pathogens still lack licensed vaccines or clear vaccination guidance. - In One Health settings, animal vaccination protects livestock productivity and can reduce zoonotic and foodborne disease transmission to humans. - The paper points to international efforts such as the PREDICT Project and global rabies vaccine funding as examples of coordination that supports surveillance and disease control.

What’s next: - The review calls for sustained research to develop vaccines for pathogens that still lack licensed products. - Policy updates are needed to keep vaccination guidance aligned with evolving risk. - International cooperation remains important for surveillance, access, and coordinated disease prevention.

The bottom line: - The paper makes the case that targeted, personalized vaccination is more effective than broad, generic coverage for biosafety, biosecurity, and One Health protection. - Read the full paper