Abstract: The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has driven the development and clinical application of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology at an unprecedented speed, elevating them from a laboratory concept to one of the key tools for global epidemic prevention and control. In recent years, the research focus of mRNA vaccines has expanded from single defense against coronaviruses to prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases, targeted therapy of tumors, and treatment of rare diseases. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to break through key technical bottlenecks such as delivery efficiency, targeting capability and patent barriers. This review summarizes recent advances in mRNA vaccine research from the perspectives of clinical studies, preclinical developments, and delivery techniques.