Many human pathogens such as the highly infectious measles virus (MV), the clinically important respiratory pathogens like human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human parainfluenza virus 3 (hPIV3), the highly lethal zoonotic viruses, Nipah (NiV), and Hendra (HeV) are all paramyxoviruses in the family Paramyxoviridae. Despite their clinical importance, human-use vaccines are available for only two of these viruses, namely for MV and mumps; both were empirically derived many years ago. For the many others such as RSV, hMPV and hPIV3 vaccines have remained elusive in spite of concentrated efforts of many investigators for a long time, for decades in some cases. Vaccine, or at the very least vaccine preparedness is needed also for some other paramyxoviurses like NiV. Traditionally many viral vaccines have been based on inactivation or attenuation. While in general they are highly effective, in some cases they fail to provide adequate immunogenicity and safety, and may even cause adverse events. In the case of live attenuated vaccines, achieving a stable optimally attenuated virus is often difficult and there is the potential for reversion. Transmission to the immunocompromised individuals is an additional concern. Inactivated vaccines run the risk of producing enhanced disease. Subunit vaccines are poorly immunogenic and would require carefully selected adjuvant(s) to achieve protection. In this article, while we touch on some of these traditional vaccine approaches, our primary focus is to review the more recent potentially safer and more effective particulate vaccines such as virus-like particles, virosomes and synthetic nanoparticles for paramyxovirses.