Review backs mRNA vaccine safety after billions of doses worldwide
A Lancet review led by UBC researchers found mRNA vaccines safe and effective, with broader uses under development for infections, cancer and other diseases.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
3 min read
A global review led by University of British Columbia researchers found that mRNA vaccines have a strong safety and effectiveness record after billions of doses given worldwide. The findings matter as scientists work to use the same technology against influenza, RSV, cancer, autoimmune disorders and other diseases.
The review, published in The Lancet, drew on laboratory research, clinical trial results and real-world vaccine performance data, according to UBC. The authors assessed the mRNA vaccine process from design and production through public use and safety monitoring.
UBC said the review was intended to give clinicians, policymakers and the public a consolidated evidence base as mRNA vaccines and therapies expand. Lead author Dr. Anna Blakney, an assistant professor at UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering, said the evidence now available after widespread use supports mRNA vaccines as a safe and effective platform.
Safety findings
The authors reported that mRNA vaccines, like other vaccines, can cause side effects. They found that serious adverse events are rare, including myocarditis, which the review said occurs more often in younger males.
According to the review, those risks are consistently outweighed by protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death. The authors also found that mRNA vaccines provide strong protection against infectious diseases, including severe COVID-19, across groups such as children, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems.
The review said booster doses extend and strengthen protection over time. It also found that updating vaccine formulations helped maintain effectiveness as new variants emerged.
Co-author Dr. Manish Sadarangani, a UBC pediatrics professor and director of the Vaccine Evaluation Center at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, said clear communication about safety data and testing is needed to support public trust and informed vaccination decisions.
How the vaccines work
The review also addressed misinformation about mRNA vaccines. The authors said the vaccines do not change a person’s DNA.
Instead, the mRNA is packaged in lipid nanoparticles and gives cells short-lived instructions to make a harmless piece of a virus, according to the review. That process trains the immune system to respond, and UBC said both the mRNA and lipid nanoparticles are broken down and cleared from the body after use.
UBC noted that its researchers helped pioneer the lipid nanoparticle delivery system used in the vaccines. The review described that delivery method as part of the platform’s success.
Next uses and access
Beyond COVID-19, the authors said mRNA technology is being developed for influenza and RSV vaccines, personalized cancer vaccines and other RNA-based therapies. Blakney said the same platform is now being applied to cancer treatment and other conditions.
The review also pointed to uneven global uptake of mRNA vaccines. The authors said misinformation and historical mistrust of health systems have helped shape that gap.
Rather than dismissing vaccine hesitancy, the researchers called for clearer, accessible information grounded in evidence. They also said broader access will require investment in manufacturing capacity, especially in low- and middle-income countries, along with improvements in storage, distribution and cost.
The Lancet paper is titled “Safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines: a mechanistic and public health perspective.” UBC said the review supports continued safety monitoring, innovation and more equitable access as mRNA-based medicine develops.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.