Abstract

A mRNA vaccine is a type of vaccine that induces an immune response. Antigen-encoding
mRNA is delivered via vaccine carriers into the immune cells, which are produced because of
antigen-encoding mRNA translation, a protein. For example, COVID-19 mRNA vaccines produce
the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus, whereas for influenza virus, mRNA vaccines target the
haemagglutinin protein to treat the flu, and it requires modifications depending on the pandemic or
seasonal viruses as it is capable of adapting the immune response, which makes the development of
vaccines arduous. The protein molecule promotes an adaptive immune response that eliminates and
terminates the corresponding virus or pathogen. There are many challenges to delivering an mRNA
vaccine into the body; hence, the encapsulation of the mRNA (usually within lipid nanoparticles)
is necessary to protect the mRNA from the body’s surrounding environment. In this review article,
we focus mainly on the production, formulation, and stabilization of mRNA vaccines in general,
elaborating more on and focusing more on SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, and influenza viruses, which
have become a major concern as these viruses have turned into life-threatening diseases.