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Review
. 2021 Dec 2;17(12):4714-4740.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1995283. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Exploring the COVID-19 vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants: where do we stand and where do we go?

Gaurav Joshi  1   2 , Pobitra Borah  1 , Shweta Thakur  3 , Praveen Sharma  2 , Mayank  4 , Ramarao Poduri  2
Affiliations
Review

Exploring the COVID-19 vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants: where do we stand and where do we go?

Gaurav Joshi et al. Hum Vaccin Immunother. .

Abstract

As of September 2021, 117 COVID-19 vaccines are in clinical development, and 194 are in preclinical development as per the World Health Organization (WHO) published draft landscape. Among the 117 vaccines undergoing clinical trials, the major platforms include protein subunit; RNA; inactivated virus; viral vector, among others. So far, USFDA recognized to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine for its full use in individuals of 16 years of age and older. Though the approved vaccines are being manufactured at a tremendous pace, the wealthiest countries have about 28% of total vaccines despite possessing only 10.8% of the total world population, suggesting an inequity of vaccine distribution. The review comprehensively summarizes the history of vaccines, mainly focusing on vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. The review also connects relevant topics, including measurement of vaccines efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, associated challenges, and limitations, as hurdles in global vaccination are also kept forth.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; design; distribution; efficacy; equity; production; vaccines; variants.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Timeline showing some important vaccines developed from 1900 till date. So far, 15 vaccines have got emergency use approval for SARS-CoV-2.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The illustration represents the process for (a) traditional vaccine development and (b) accelerated vaccine development in the COVID-19 pandemic against SARS-CoV-2 shown as compared to the traditional vaccine development timeline for malaria, typhoid, meningitis, polio, measles, and mumps.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
A brief overlay highlighting the approach for vaccine development.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The graph highlights the vaccines platforms currently in clinical trial utilized in the quest for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
(a) The pie-chart represents the primary route of administration of vaccines currently in clinical trials; (b) bar graphs represent the major injectable routes proposed for vaccines in clinical trials as of September 19, 2021.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Percentage share of doses regimen of Vaccine candidates against SARS-CoV-2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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