COVID-19 vaccine: world’s best coronavirus vaccine overview

Medically reviewed: 4, January 2024

What is the best COVID-19 vaccine? All about the pros and cons of registered vaccines

COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important and powerful tools to fight the coronavirus infection and prevent future pandemic situations. In just one year, 9 registered coronavirus vaccines were created and more than 50 candidates for registration. According to the WHO, the number of vaccinated in the world has already exceeded the number of infected.

Coronavirus COVID-19 vaccines: a comparative analysis

What is the best coronavirus vaccine? First you need to compare them in composition, principle of operation and ease of use.

Vector COVID-19 vaccines

A vector is a virus that delivers the desired genetic material to the body. The vector is devoid of the gene for reproduction and is not hazardous to health.

In vaccines against coronavirus, adenovirus, the causative agent of the common cold, is used as a vector. The genetic part of SARS-CoV-2 is inserted into it so that the immune system responds to it by producing antibodies.

Adenovirus vector vaccines are well understood. They easily penetrate human cells, are safe and can induce a long-term immune response. However, it will not be possible to reuse the same adenovirus vaccine, since the next time there will be no pronounced immune response.

The vector vaccines against coronavirus include the domestic Sputnik V, the Anglo-Swedish AstraZeneca and the Chinese Konvidetsiya.

COVID-19 Vaccine “Sputnik V” from the Center. Gamalei (Russia)

It uses human adenovirus as a vector. It has a built-in gene encoding an S-protein on the surface of the coronavirus thorns, with which the virus enters cells. In phase 3 trials, the vaccine was 91.6% effective. In one hundred percent of cases, she prevented the development of a severe form of coronavirus. The vaccine was tested on participants between 18 and 84 years old.

Among the most common side effects are flu-like symptoms, high fever, swelling and tenderness at the injection site.

The vaccine is stored frozen at -18 ° C. Can be used in hot climates, as a dry version of the vaccine has been developed: it is stored at +2 – + 8 ° C. The cost of one dose does not exceed $ 10. For Russians, the vaccine is free.

In addition to Russia, the vaccine is used in Algeria, Guinea, Serbia, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, as well as in twenty Latin American countries, including Argentina.

COVID-19 Vaccine AZD1222 from AstraZeneca (Great Britain, Sweden)

Developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford. It also uses a vector based on an adenovirus, but not a human, but a chimpanzee. In clinical trials, the AstraZeneca vaccine has been shown to be 70% effective in participants aged 18-55. Side effects include muscle pain, headache and local reactions.

Unlike Sputnik V, AZD1222 can be administered in a single dose. Stored at temperatures from 2 ° C to 8 ° C, the cost of one dose of the drug is $ 3- $ 5.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is approved for use in North and Latin America, Western Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

COVID-19 Vaccine Ad5-nCoV or “Convidetsia” from CanSinoBiologics (China)

The vector is human adenovirus. Vaccine trials have not yet been completed: Phase III is taking place in Pakistan, Mexico, Russia, Chile. This vaccine has already been given to Chinese military personnel. Data on the effectiveness of the drug have not yet been published.

Genetic COVID-19 vaccines

Another type of vaccine is nucleic acid preparations. They contain the empty shell of the virus with its genetic material. The essence of such vaccines is to produce viral proteins in the body, to which the immune system will react.

Genetic vaccines have been developed in the past and have been found to be safe. However, before the pandemic, none of them passed registration: it was not easy to deliver the drug to the cells of the body.

COVID-19 Vaccine BNT162b2 from Pfizer and BioNTech (USA, Germany)

The drug contains coronavirus matrix ribonucleic acid (mRNA). In clinical trials, the vaccine has shown an efficacy of 95%. Side effects were rare, but in three cases the vaccine caused anaphylactic shock. The drug has not been tested on people over 75 years of age.

BNT162b2 vaccine is stored at -70 ° C. The maximum shelf life in the refrigerator is 24 hours. The cost of genetic vaccines is higher than the cost of vector vaccines: one dose of Pfizer is estimated at $ 19.5.

The drug is approved for use in the 27 countries of the European Union and the United States.

COVID-19 MRNA-1273 vaccine from Moderna (USA)

Developed in partnership with the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This is the first mRNA vaccine to be used in humans. The vaccine was 94.1% effective. About 10% of the participants in the trials reported weakness after receiving the vaccine.

However, there have been cases of allergic reactions and paralysis of the facial nerve. It is not yet known whether these phenomena are directly related to the vaccine.

The drug was approved for use in 37 countries, including the US, UK and EU countries.

Unlike Pfizer’s vaccine, mRNA-1273 is more stable. It can be transported between -20 ° C and -15 ° C and stored in the vaccine refrigerator for up to 5 days. Due to the use of new technology, the cost of the vaccine is high: from $ 25 to $ 37 per dose.

Protein COVID-19 vaccines

Protein or peptide vaccines use a protein in the outer envelope of the virus. When ingested, the protein quickly triggers a response from the immune system. In the future, if she encounters a real virus, she will recognize and attack. Vaccines against hepatitis B and human papillomavirus are built on this principle.

Protein vaccines are safe and inexpensive to manufacture.

COVID-19 “EpiVacCorona” from the scientific center “Vector” (Russia)

Contains S-protein fragments that have not changed during the evolution of the coronavirus. Therefore, the vaccine is highly effective against mutations. In clinical trials of phases I and II, the vaccine has shown efficacy, the results of post-marketing trials have not yet been published. The vaccine is recommended in patients with severe illnesses.

It is convenient to store the drug – at a temperature of 2 ° to 8 ° C.

Inactivated coronavirus vaccines

Inactivated vaccines use a “dead” virus: it cannot multiply. But he retains proteins to which an immune response is generated. Inactivated vaccines include the hepatitis A vaccine.

Inactivated vaccines are similar in composition to a real virus, so they elicit a strong immune response. At the same time, they are suitable for immunocompromised people.

Another advantage is that they are easy to modify for different strains.

Inactivated vaccines are difficult to manufacture and therefore expensive.

Among the drugs for COVID-19, three such vaccines have so far been registered. Chinese development has been studied the most.

COVID-19 Vaccine “Koronavak” of the Sinovac Biotech laboratory (China)

According to the results of the third phase trials, the vaccine has shown high safety and efficacy at the level of 78%. It prevents moderate to severe coronavirus in 100% of cases. One in three subjects had mild side effects.

The vaccine is stored at a temperature of 2 ° C-8 ° C for up to 3 years. Its cost in different countries is estimated from $ 10 to $ 18.

Now it is being vaccinated by the population of China. It is used in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, UAE, Pakistan, Seychelles, Egypt, Serbia, Ukraine, etc.

It will not work to call one of the vaccines the best for everyone, since effectiveness is not the only parameter for evaluating drugs. So, if the patient’s immunity is weakened, then it is better to use an inactivated vaccine, in which the effectiveness is estimated at 79%. If there are serious illnesses, then safety becomes the main criterion. In this case, the same inactivated or protein vaccine will do.

Due to the difference in cost and storage conditions, drugs are distributed across different countries. At best, the population has to choose between two or three vaccines. If RNA vaccines prevail in Europe, then in Russia the vector “Sputnik V” and the protein “EpiVacCorona” are currently available.

Whatever vaccine you use, the most important thing is the formation of immunity. All drugs are effective enough for a person to develop antibodies. This means that registered vaccines can form herd immunity in the population and interrupt the chain of transmission.

According to WHO estimates, 65-70% of vaccinated people are enough to return to normal life.