The mRNA vaccines against developing COVID-19 are obviously the first approved mRNA vaccines. We are probably at the beginning of an mRNA vaccine evolution. I've recently read a very interesting article about the development of a potential Herpes Simplex (HSV-2) vaccine. https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/can-mrna-vaccines-defeat-herpes:
The goals of a HSV-2 vaccine are to keep the herpes virus dormant. Or if the virus escapes, prevent it from causing symptoms. ... This superior molecular response was consistent with symptom reduction - the mRNA vaccine was perfect in preventing genital disease (100%) and significantly reduced recurrent disease (98%). ... The risk of transmission (measured by days) was 2% with the protein vaccine, compared to 0% with the mRNA vaccine.
And a new mRNA vaccine against seasonal influenza (mRNA-1010, mRNA-1020, mRNA-1030), a HIV vaccine (mRNA-1644 & mRNA-1574) and the Nipah virus (NiV) vaccine (mRNA-1215) and others such as vaccines against Zika virus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), CMV, RSV and hMPV. This all seems very promising. - https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-provides-business-update-and-announces-three-new. As well as a Malaria vaccine.
But my main question is, what is there to develop? Isn't the over simplified process of mRNA vaccine production not something like: identify, sequence, isolate, find a proper carrier, produce? I can imagine that once the general production of mRNA vaccines is available and approved that it is just matter of putting other genetic material in the vaccine carrier?