mRNA vaccines were developed based on Decades of scientific study at NIH before they were authorized and approved by the FDA Decades of medical research led to the development of mRNA vaccines in 1961 scientists discovered and began studying mRNA in the early 2000s a laboratory breakthrough showed that modified mRNA can safely deliver instructions to cells and in 2016 scientists began to collaborate on a general vaccine design that uses viral mRNA this design was studied for protecting people from emerging viruses such as NEPA virus and the Mar's Corona virus in January 2020 scientists quickly pivoted from studies of other viral vaccines to focus on a vaccine candidate for covid-19