Vaccination is a "marvel of scientific endeavour" that brings benefits to the masses. But a laissez-faire attitude to funding may hamper vaccine research and development.

In this article, G. J. V. Nossal says that the global funding climate for vaccine researching has improved over the past few years. He illustrates his point with examples of national and international efforts that he says provide a healthier climate for vaccine research and development.

Nossal also reminds his readers that funding research is not the 'be all and end all' of vaccine development. Rather, it is equally important to make sure a vaccine is properly introduced in developing nations once it has been approved for distribution.

Reference: Nature Immunology 5, 457 (2004)

Link to the full Nature Immunology article