A Journey in Science: Molecular Vaccines for Global Child Health in Troubled Times of Anti-Science

Authors

Peter J Hotez

Publication Date

3-15-2024

Journal

Molecular Medicine

DOI

10.1186/s10020-024-00786-y

PMID

38491420

PMCID

PMC10943906

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

3-15-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Child, Humans, Child Health, COVID-19 Vaccines, Global Health, Hookworm Infections, Vaccines, Synthetic

Abstract

My scientific life in translational medicine runs in two parallel, yet often converging paths. The first, is four-decade-long commitment to develop new vaccines for parasitic and neglected tropical diseases, as well as pandemic threats. This includes a vaccine for human hookworm infection that I began as an MD-PhD student in New York City in the 1980s, and a new low-cost COVID vaccine that reached almost 100 million people in low- and middle-income countries. Alongside this life in scientific research, is one in public engagement for vaccine and neglected disease diplomacy to ensure that people who live in extreme poverty can benefit from access to biomedical innovations. A troubling element has been the daunting task of countering rising antivaccine activism, which threatens to undermine our global vaccine ecosystem. Yet, this activity may turn out to become just as important for saving lives as developing new vaccines.