Imagine if a single vaccine could protect against a vast array of pathogenic threats. Recent research suggests that a universal vaccine to fend off respiratory viruses, bacterial infections—even allergens—might become a reality. Such jabs would be vital for blunting the impact of the next pandemic.
Guests and hosts:
Topics covered:
Listen to Ainslie’s related reporting on dementia and infections by scrolling back to our March 2025 episode, “Going viral: could infections cause Alzheimer's?”
Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.
Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.
For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.
","author_name":"The Economist"}