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Media Briefing: MRNA Vaccines

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health•Mar 26, 2026

Why It Matters

Accelerated mRNA vaccine production promises better seasonal flu protection and new cancer treatments, but achieving these benefits depends on continued policy support and overcoming public skepticism.

Key Takeaways

  • •mRNA vaccines enable rapid vaccine design after target sequencing
  • •Faster production can improve flu vaccine match and effectiveness
  • •mRNA platforms show promise for cancer therapeutics and personalized vaccines
  • •Public skepticism persists; clear communication on safety is essential
  • •Federal support influences pace, but global momentum sustains mRNA development

Summary

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health hosted a media briefing to explain how messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines work, their safety profile, and their expanding role beyond COVID‑19. Professors Andrew Pekosch and Gigi Granvall outlined the technology’s core advantage: a synthetic mRNA strand directs a person’s own cells to produce a viral protein, prompting a robust immune response without using live virus. This platform dramatically shortens development timelines—from five‑to‑six months for traditional egg‑based flu shots to under two months for mRNA formulations—allowing later, more accurate strain selection.

Key insights included the potential to overhaul seasonal influenza vaccination, improve match rates, and reduce the mutational artifacts introduced by egg‑culture methods. The speakers also highlighted early therapeutic applications, such as personalized cancer vaccines that target tumor‑specific antigens, and noted ongoing work on mRNA‑based prophylaxis for HPV‑related cancers. Throughout the discussion, they addressed persistent myths, emphasizing that mRNA does not integrate into DNA, does not cause cancer, and has already saved millions of lives.

Notable remarks featured Pekosch’s “horse‑and‑buggy to Corvette” analogy to illustrate speed gains, and Granvall’s data that mRNA production can be completed in less than two months, offering flexibility to respond to emerging strains like H5N1. The briefing also covered regulatory challenges, with questions about FDA receptivity and the importance of clear messaging to primary‑care physicians confronting vaccine hesitancy.

The implications are far‑reaching: faster, more precise vaccine pipelines could increase flu‑shot uptake, reduce hospitalizations, and provide a versatile foundation for pandemic preparedness and next‑generation cancer therapies. However, sustained federal investment and public trust remain critical to fully realize mRNA’s transformative potential.

Original Description

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health hosted a media briefing on March 26, 2026, to discuss mRNA vaccines: how they work, their effectiveness and safety, and their role in responding to infectious disease threats. The briefing also addressed questions and misconceptions about the technology, including concerns about side effects.
mRNA vaccines gained global attention during the COVID-19 pandemic when they were rapidly developed and deployed to protect millions of people. While the technology may have seemed new to the public, researchers have been studying mRNA platforms for decades. As of today, four mRNA vaccines have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—three to provide protection against COVID-19 and one to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). As the technology continues to evolve, scientists are exploring ways to improve mRNA vaccine effectiveness, minimize side effects, and expand its use to protect against other diseases.
Topics discussed:
How mRNA vaccines differ from traditional vaccines.
The promise of mRNA vaccines in cancer treatment.
The effectiveness of mRNA vaccines and what the latest evidence shows.
Known side effects of mRNA vaccines, including rare cases of myocarditis, and how scientists are working to refine mRNA technology to improve effectiveness and reduce side effects.
The role mRNA vaccines played during the COVID-19 pandemic and their potential in future pandemic preparedness.
How mRNA vaccines could help combat the flu.
How other countries are investing in and developing mRNA vaccine technology.
Insights from:
Gigi Gronvall, PhD, a professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her work focuses on health security, biotechnology, and the governance of emerging biological technologies, including mRNA vaccines.
Andrew Pekosz, PhD, a professor and vice chair of the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center of Excellence in Influenza Research and Response. His research focuses on respiratory viruses, including influenza and coronaviruses, and the development and evaluation of vaccines.
Resources:
Gigi Gronvall
Andrew Pekosz
For mRNA Vaccines, COVID-19 Is Just the Beginning
The Long History of mRNA Vaccines
Video: How Do mRNA Vaccines Work? Here's What You Should Know (2021)
How Cuts to mRNA Vaccine Development Will Set the U.S. Back
Covid-19: How to Update an mRNA Vaccine
Johns Hopkins Center of Excellence in Influenza Research and Response
Vaccines Licensed for Use in the United States
Introducing the World’s First mRNA Vaccine Against RSV
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Newsroom
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:00 How mRNA vaccines differ from traditional vaccines
3:30 mRNA vaccines and flu vaccines
06:35 How doctors can talk to patients about mRNA
08:30 Federal support for mRNA research
09:34 mRNA vaccines and cancer treatment
12:10 mRNA vs traditional vaccines
14:20 mRNA vaccines and the flu
15:40 How mRNA could be most useful
17:30 Likelihood have mRNA 2026-27 flu season
18:40 Side effects of mRNA vaccines
21:33 COVID-19 variant and vaccines
23:40 How different countries access mRNA technology
24:55 Potential and hurdles related to mRNA technology
26:20 Role of FDA in mRNA use
27:56 mRNA vaccine technology’s promise
28:55 Investing in effective technology

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