One vaccine for life: Lessons from immune ontogeny

There remains a general misconception that the immune status of fetus and neonate is immature or insufficient. However, emerging research in ontogeny prompts reconsideration this orthodoxy, reframing period instead as one unique opportunity. Vaccine responses (qualitative quantitative) vary between individuals, across demographic cohorts. Elements baseline function predict vaccine response – some these factors are well described, others remain subject ongoing research, especially with rapidly expanding field ‘omics’ enabled by development highly granular profiling techniques increasing computational capacity. Age strongest predictive associated variability to vaccination; predictable variation vaccination key identify crucial underlying mechanisms. Specifically, circulating maternal antibody young infant can modulate vaccination, acting an ‘undercover adjuvant’ that, counter current dogma, may offer pathway longer lasting, higher quality vaccination. Exciting avenues for novel area have potential dramatically alter how we protect world's most vulnerable population very young.