Socio-Technological Relationships in Vaccine Systems: Uncovering the Dynamics of Interaction

This book critically examines the foundational assumptions of vaccine systems, challenging the dominant linear narrative of vaccine creation and production, regulation, and distribution. Rather than treating these components as isolated and sequential, the project adopts a holistic approach to unpack their dynamic interrelations. The volume is organized into three parts—Creation and Production, Regulation, and Distribution—each showcasing how broader social, political, cultural, and economic processes shape the inter-relationships between these components.

It offers a unique contribution by reframing the understanding of vaccine systems through an interdisciplinary lens that draws on law, public health, innovation studies, psychology and science and technology studies. It is distinct in combining theoretical analysis with empirical insights from diverse national and socio-cultural contexts to examine how these systems operate in practice. In doing so, it supports the call for more inclusive, transparent, and context-sensitive models of vaccine governance, which is particularly important in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and in preparation for future public health challenges.

Omkar P. Nadh is an interdisciplinary Research Fellow at the T.C. Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland, working in the field of science technology society studies (STS). His research examines healthcare biotechnological innovation with particular attention to their political–economic dynamics and public health implications.

Tolulope Adekola is a Lecturer in Law at the Australian Catholic University. Tolulope’s expertise is in intellectual property law and public health law. His research focuses on the role of intellectual property law in vaccine development and distribution. More generally, he is interested in issues pertaining to facilitating access to vaccines and other medical technologies on equitable and affordable terms.

Omkar P. Nadh is an interdisciplinary Research Fellow at the T.C. Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland, working in the field of science technology society studies (STS). His research examines healthcare biotechnological innovation with particular attention to their political–economic dynamics and public health implications.

Tolulope Adekola is a Lecturer in Law at the Australian Catholic University. Tolulope’s expertise is in intellectual property law and public health law. His research focuses on the role of intellectual property law in vaccine development and distribution. More generally, he is interested in issues pertaining to facilitating access to vaccines and other medical technologies on equitable and affordable terms.