The Medication Therapies and Existing COVID-19 Vaccines, the Nature of Manufacture, and the Degree of Immunity

Abstract

The globe is currently dealing with one of the worst epidemics, SARS-CoV-2. The various drugs can treat the clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, and combination therapies may be more effective than monotherapy. This study discussed various COVID-19 subtypes, pharmaceutical effectiveness, the advantages and disadvantages of medications, and mortality rates in various countries. The drugs were reviewed as well. The macrolides family can produce anti-inflammatory cytokines against COVID-19, but they may cause side effects such as bacterial resistance. Although anti-malarial drugs may inhibit the entrance of the virus into cells, they are not a common medicine in COVID-19 treatment. The simultaneous consumption of corticosteroids with other drugs can be beneficial for high-intensity patients. In addition, remdesivir may be effective in severe cases of the disease. However, the administration of several drugs can be more effective compared to a single drug. Although pharmacological combinations can be effective in treating SARS-CoV-2, vaccines are considered to be the most successful approach for reducing COVID-19. Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are based on the mRNA of viruses and provide an efficiency of about 95%. Sputnik V was prepared by two replication-incompetent adenovirus vectors. The AstraZeneca–Oxford vaccine was prepared based on viral vectors, and its efficacy has a variable range of 62%–90%. The vaccines based on an inactivated virus provided innate immunity in the body. Soberana 2 is a recombinant vaccine. Generally, all vaccines may have positive effects on the prevention of COVID-19, but further clinical trials are necessary. These findings suggest each available vaccine is advised for protection against COVID-19.