Covid-19 Vaccine Developments: A Review

Author: T. Sujatha, P. Siva Raagini and R. Shyamala Chandra

Download PDF

Abstract

COVID-19 is an RNA virus that belongs to the family Corona viridae and is responsible for the unique SARS-CoV-2 infection. As of 23 September 2022, 771,151,224 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6,960,783 deaths, reported to WHO and a total of 13,513,207,331 vaccine doses have been administered. There is no specific therapy available for this disease with different spectra of pathogenicity and prevention by vaccine is the best suggested option. Therefore, research facilities all over the world are working to create an efficient vaccine against this ailment, as this is crucial in lowering mortality rates. Over 200 potential vaccines against COVID-19 have been identified. Currently, testing on humans is being done on almost 52 seeker vaccines. The majority of these vaccine candidates function by encouraging the immune system to target the shaft protein (S)or by blocking the ACE-2 receptor, which helps prevent the entry of the virus into the cells. Merits and drawbacks are associated with the various vaccine development platforms like inactivated whole virus, deficient adenovirus, recombinant protein, and viral RNA that is currently in use. The different vaccine platforms, advocates, and development strategies are discussed alongside the difficulties of developing a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords

Candidate vaccines, ACE-2 receptor, vaccine platforms, SARS-CoV-2

Conclusion

Since the first SARS-CoV-2 illness case was reported in 2019, more than 230 vaccine candidates are now being developed, with the majority of them already having received Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs). In an effort to increase the rate at which new vaccines can be introduced to the market, ethical review boards are tightening their approval criteria, and pharmaceutical companies are entering into potentially riskier strategic alliances with vaccine development organizations. The COVAX project and other coalitions have been supported by over 150 countries to ensure equitable distribution and supply. Attempts to restore normalcy have been aided by certain governments' upfront payments for vaccination doses. Many questions remain about COVID-19 immunity, but data from Phase 3 trials should help us draw more definitive conclusions about the factors that predict safety from infection with COVID-19 and about various vaccine candidates. There are likely to be a number of different vaccine candidates using a variety of vaccine delivery methods needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. More vaccines that have been given the green light means more vaccine doses may be manufactured in less time, which might be used to vaccinate a large population. However, different vaccine platforms will produce vaccine candidates for varying degrees of defense against populations with altered immune responses, such as kids, pregnant women, people with co-morbidities, and people who are immunosenescent (those whose immune systems have lost the capacity to function properly after the age of 65). Clinical studies helped verify the vaccines' effectiveness and determine the extent to which they protected against COVID-19.

References

-

How to cite this article

T. Sujatha, P. Siva Raagini and R. Shyamala Chandra (2023). Covid-19 Vaccine Developments: A Review. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5a): 623-631.