Thiago Mendes Sansevero, Fernanda Sanches, Gabriela de Amorim Ferreira Antonio, José Alberto Paris
Advances in immunology and biotechnology have driven the development of next-generation vaccines capable of inducing more specific, safer, and more effective immune responses, expanding the possibilities for preventing and treating a wide range of diseases. This study aimed to analyze the scientific evidence regarding the immunological mechanisms, main vaccine platforms, clinical applications, and future perspectives of next-generation vaccines for Biomedical Sciences. This qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study was conducted through an integrative literature review. The bibliographic search was performed in the SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, complemented by technical and institutional documents published between 2016 and 2026. The analyzed evidence demonstrated that platforms such as messenger RNA, plasmid DNA, recombinant viral vectors, and recombinant proteins represent a significant advancement over conventional vaccination by promoting more efficient humoral and cellular immune responses and expanding the possibilities of precision medicine and immunotherapy. The studies also highlighted challenges related to vaccine stability, distribution logistics, surveillance of emerging variants, vaccine hesitancy, and the need to strengthen research and national production of immunobiological products. It is concluded that next-generation vaccines represent one of the most important innovations in contemporary Biomedical Sciences, contributing to the improvement of immunization strategies and the development of more personalized therapeutic approaches. However, their consolidation will depend on continued investment in scientific research, technological innovation, professional training, and the strengthening of public health policies.