VaccineCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Second part

Vacuna contra SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic required development of new methods to treat and prevent the infection. Initially, prevention was limited to facial masks, social distancing and the closure of institutions. The description of the viral genome, allowed the manufacturing of vaccines against the virus. The mRNA vaccines are two are the most promising, one manufactured by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health in the United States and another by Pfizer and BioNTech. These vaccines contain a synthetic analog of a highly immunogenic area of the viral spike, when inoculated in humans; they carry the message to produce viral proteins and stimulate immunologic responses for viral elimination. A 95% effectiveness in Phase 3 studies, was reported for both and they can be manufactured in short time.  Both laboratories have applied to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization and were approved for human use in december 2020. Another platform is the insertion of synthetic analogs of the viral spike in an inert adenovirus.  Astra Zeneca and Oxford University reported an average 70% effectiveness. However, because of certain irregularities in the Phase 3, final analysis is pending. Viral vectors were used for vaccines prepared in Russia and China; the products were approved for use in their countries of origin. Other products utilizing live attenuated virus, inert virus or viral sub-particles are in progress and may contribute to the prevention of this disease, which has infected more than 60 million people and has caused the death of around 2 million people.