Accelerating Shigella vaccines: from decades of research to global access

Shigella remains one of the leading causes of severe pediatric diarrheal deaths, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Despite more than a century of sustained research efforts, there is no globally licensed Shigella vaccine.

This review examines the epidemiology, pathogenesis, historical development, and vaccine landscape of Shigella, highlighting investigational vaccine candidates. Evidence from the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) further indicates that several vaccine candidates have progressed to Phase II and III clinical trials across diverse geographic regions worldwide. However, licensure remains constrained by scientific, public health, and programmatic challenges.

Next-generation Shigella vaccine platforms offer promising opportunities to improve immunogenicity, scalability, and serotype coverage. However, key challenges remain, including antigenic diversity, the lack of defined correlates of protection, and the complexity of conducting efficacy trials in high-burden settings. Accelerating vaccine development will require continued innovation, strengthened clinical trial capacity in endemic regions, and coordinated global partnerships. Addressing these priorities could facilitate vaccine licensure and enable effective deployment, ultimately reducing the global burden of shigellosis, and contributing to efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.