Comparative Insights on Traditional and Genetic Vaccines: Past Progress and Future Outlook

This review explores the evolution, mechanisms, and future potential of vaccines, with a comparative focus on traditional vaccines and emerging genetic vaccines. Traditional vaccinessuch as inactivated, attenuated, and subunit typeshave played a pivotal role in public health but face limitations in production complexity, efficacy, and storage. In contrast, genetic vaccines, particularly mRNA-based, offer higher efficiency, rapid development, and customizable antigen targeting enabled by gene-editing technologies like PCR and CRISPR. Despite challenges such as stability, delivery systems, and short-lived immunity in certain cases, genetic vaccines show promising adaptability in combating viral mutations and may redefine therapeutic strategies. The paper argues that with ongoing advances in biotechnology, genetic vaccines could gradually replace conventional types, shaping a new era in preventive medicine and global immunization.