Zika is Still Spreading. Why Don’t We Have a Vaccine Yet?

Despite initial urgency, the development of a Zika vaccine has stalled due to funding gaps, low pharmaceutical interest, and logistical challenges in trial execution. After the rapid spread of Zika in 2015-2016, which caused severe birth defects in affected pregnancies, public health officials redirected attention and resources to other priorities, including COVID-19. This shift left Zika vaccine development underfunded, especially as cases declined in high-income areas, making large-scale trials difficult.

 

Experts like Johns Hopkins’ Anna Durbin stress the ongoing need for a vaccine to protect against congenital Zika syndrome, which still affects thousands of children annually, primarily in low-income regions. Read more from Vox here.