Viral targets for vaccines against COVID-19

Vaccines are urgently needed to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to help the return to pre-pandemic normalcy. A great many vaccine candidates are being developed, several of which have completed late-stage clinical trials and are reporting positive results. In this Progress article, we discuss which viral elements are used in COVID-19 vaccine candidates, why they might act as good targets for the immune system and the implications for protective immunity. As the world races to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, Dai and Gao highlight which viral targets are best to include in a vaccine and how this impacts the induced immune response and, ultimately, the safety and efficacy of a vaccine.

Automated summary

The urgent need for vaccines to control the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid development of multiple vaccine candidates, with some showing positive results in late-stage clinical trials. This article discusses the viral elements used in these candidates, the reasons why they are good targets for the immune system, and their implications for protective immunity. Dai and Gao highlight the importance of selecting the right viral targets in vaccine development to ensure an effective immune response and the overall safety and efficacy of the vaccine.