Vaccine Development Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic and Explorations for its Cure: Which Side of the Divide are we on? A Perspective Research Work

Abstract

With the continuous effects of COVID-19 pandemic on various aspects of human, material as well as economic endeavours across the globe, intensive research for a lasting cure to the disease includes a quest for the development of effective drugs and vaccines. This paper is a synopsis of the global COVID-vaccination efforts. It reviewed and constellated materials on COVID-19 vaccine production, its distribution, administration and overall impact on the control of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights lessons learnt. Information on candidate COVID-19 vaccines recommended for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) was obtained from various media sources and search engines (Google Scholar, PubMed, Electronic and print media, Newsletters). The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. We observed the urgency posed by COVID-19 pandemic, which did not allow for thorough clinical trials for all the currently available vaccines before their widespread public consumption and there is asymmetrical vaccine distribution and uptake between the low and moderate-income countries. The unmet COVID-19 vaccine needs in Africa have been inadequate for several reasons. The vaccines have nevertheless shown immense efficacy and effectiveness. Whether there will be sustained effectiveness and resilience of these vaccines to mutant newer strains of the coronavirus in the future remains unknown. With the little evidence of mutant strains, episodic waves of infections and the benefit of a lead time, the gap in the global vaccine distribution and administration needs to be more ambitious and focused in terms of international collaborations and media risk communication to improve supply and uptake of vaccines, particularly in Africa.