Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)Oct 13, 2026

Potential of mRNA vaccines to fight infectious and chronic diseases in low-income countries

mRNA Technology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Oct 14, 2026

Abstract

By 2050, NCDs are projected to account for 70% of all deaths in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs).

Low-income and lower-middle-income countries face a dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases due to various vulnerabilities.
Infectious diseases continue to cause high mortality, while NCDs are rapidly increasing due to demographic changes and lifestyle factors.
The dual burden leads to significant economic losses from treatment costs and decreased productivity.
mRNA vaccines have the potential to transform disease management by providing rapid and adaptable solutions for both infectious diseases and cancers.
Challenges such as vaccine stability, cold-chain storage, and delivery logistics limit the implementation of mRNA vaccines in resource-limited settings.
Targeted strategies are needed to address these barriers and extend the benefits of mRNA vaccines to developing nations.

Simplified

The global health landscape is increasingly dominated by a double burden of communicable diseases (CDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) being disproportionately affected due to geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. While infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and diarrheal illnesses continue to cause high mortality rates, particularly in LMICs, NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic pulmonary conditions are rising rapidly due to demographic shifts and lifestyle changes. This dual burden not only contributes to high morbidity and mortality but also results in significant economic losses due to treatment costs and reduced productivity. World Health Organization projections suggest that by 2050, NCDs will account for 70% of all deaths in LMICs. This study aimed to explore recent literature on the impact of communicable diseases and NCDs in these regions and assess the potential role of mRNA vaccine technology in addressing this growing crisis. The findings indicate that mRNA vaccines have emerged as a transformative innovation in the field of vaccinology, offering rapid, adaptable platforms for addressing both infectious diseases and virus-induced cancers. The study highlights that mRNA vaccines could play a pivotal role in personalized and efficient disease management. However, barriers such as vaccine stability, cold-chain storage requirements, and delivery logistics hinder their implementation in resource-limited settings. This study emphasizes the need for targeted strategies to overcome these challenges and extend the benefits of mRNA vaccines to developing nations.

Potential of mRNA vaccines to fight infectious and chronic diseases in low-income countries

Abstract

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