SARS-CoV-2: Unique Challenges of the Virus and Vaccines

In November 2019, the highly infectious coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to almost all countries worldwide. Since its emergence, the COVID-19 infection has led to significant public health, economic and social problems. The current pandemic has inspired researchers to make every effort to design and develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine to provide sufficient protection against the virus and control the infection. In December 2020, the Pfizer vaccine was the first COVID-19 vaccine given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and the second FDA so-approved vaccine was the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine, which was introduced a week later. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA-based vaccines, and are estimated to have an efficacy rate of more than 94%. The aim of this article is to provide a review of the attempts made to develop safe SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, highlighting potential challenges and concerns, such as disease enhancement, virus mutations, and public acceptance of the vaccine.

Automated summary

The highly infectious coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan, China in November 2019 and has spread globally, leading to significant public health, economic, and social impacts. Efforts have been made to develop safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, with Pfizer and Moderna's mRNA-based vaccines having received emergency use authorization and showing high efficacy rates. Challenges such as disease enhancement, virus mutations, and public acceptance of the vaccine have been highlighted in vaccine development efforts.