Vaccinology: From Outbreak to Rollout
Harvard Extension School
BIOT E-212
Section 1
CRN 26762
This course explores the process of creating a vaccine, from the initial identification of a pathogen through the design and testing process to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. This course teaches students how to assess the logistical and societal challenges facing vaccines. Technologies such as new delivery platforms (for example, mRNA) or discovery and design platforms (for example, machine learning-based protein design) as well as new targets for vaccines (for example, personalized cancer vaccines) are also covered in this course. Through lectures, discussions, case studies, and critical reading and presentations of primary literature, students learn the fundamentals of vaccine design, vaccine responses, preclinical testing of vaccines, clinical trials for vaccines, and the rollout of vaccines. The course emphasizes the real-world applications of vaccine technologies and the real-world considerations a company or government must contend with when designing or rolling out a vaccine. Students may not take both BIOT E-212 and BIOT E-215 (offered previously) for degree or certificate credit.
Registration Closes: January 22, 2026
Credits: 4
View Tuition Information Term
Spring Term 2026
Part of Term
Full Term
Format
Live Attendance Web Conference
Credit Status
Graduate
Section Status
Open