Why don't we have vaccines for every coronavirus outbreak we have ever faced?

While coronaviruses like SARS and MERS have existed for years, vaccine development is hindered by a unique economic landscape. This video examines the strange market for emergency vaccines, uncovering the logistical hurdles and unconventional resources required to maintain a national supply.

The market for emergency vaccines operates under unusual economic conditions that complicate rapid development. Despite previous outbreaks of SARS in 2003 and MERS in 2012, the lack of readily available vaccines points to systemic challenges in how these medical supplies are produced and stockpiled.

To address these gaps, the government has resorted to unconventional methods, including the establishment of specialized agencies and the maintenance of a massive stockpile of upwards of 900,000 chicken eggs annually. These resources, alongside top-secret chicken flocks, illustrate the extreme measures required to ensure national preparedness.

Source: The Market for Emergency Vaccines Is Like No Other | Planet Money | NPR