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Journal ArticleDOI

COVID-19 vaccines - are we there yet?

17 Dec 2020-Australian Prescriber (NPS MedicineWise)-Vol. 44, Iss: 1, pp 19-25
TL;DR: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a highly infectious human respiratory pathogen to which the global population had no prior immunity and is likely to cause significant morbidity until there is a broadly effective vaccine.
Abstract: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a highly infectious human respiratory pathogen to which the global population had no prior immunity. The virus will likely continue to cause significant morbidity until there is a broadly effective vaccine As of mid-December 2020, more than 200 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in development and 11 have entered phase III clinical trials globally. All generate immunity to the viral spike glycoprotein Three vaccine candidates have agreements for procurement and use in Australia if efficacy and safety requirements are met - one protein-based vaccine, one vaccine using a simian-derived adenovirus vector and one messenger RNA vaccine. The latter two vaccines have published interim analyses and efficacy results of their phase III trials. The messenger RNA vaccine is being rolled out in the UK, USA and Canada Significant uncertainties remain. How well will some of those at highest risk of severe disease (such as older people aged >75 years and those with immunocompromising conditions) be protected by a vaccine, and for how long? Also, to what extent will vaccination protect against infection? This will determine the degree of indirect 'herd' protection needed through broad vaccine coverage of younger age groups.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
05 Apr 2021-Vaccine
TL;DR: The development of COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for the world to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, and a collective global effort has been invested into protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread to become a global pandemic as discussed by the authors.

44 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
24 Sep 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors have done a systematic in silico study of papain-like protease of COVID-19 virus with the chemical constituents of herbal plant Piper Longum.
Abstract: Unavailability of treatment for the SARS-CoV-2 virus has raised concern among the population worldwide. This has led to many attempts to find alternative options to prevent the infection of the disease, including focusing on vaccines and drugs. The use of natural products and herbal extracts can be a better option in beating the virus and boosting up immunity. In the present paper, we have done a systematic in silico study of papain-like protease of COVID-19 virus with the chemical constituents of herbal plant Piper Longum. Screening of the pharmacokinetic properties is done with thirty-two phytoconstituents of Piper Longum which help us in selecting the most active components of the plant. After selection molecular docking is performed with Aristololactam (C17H11NO4), Fargesin (C21H22O6), l-asarinin (C20H18O6), Lignans Machilin F (C20H22O5), Piperundecalidine (C23H29NO3), and Pluviatilol (C20H20O6). Molecular dynamic (MD) is also performed with the inhibitor-receptor complex which suggest significant inhibition and a stable complex of I-Asarinin with PLpro. Docking scores and simulation results suggest that I-Asarinin can act as a potential drug like candidate against COVID-19.

24 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
15 Jul 2021-Vaccine
TL;DR: In this paper, an online survey was created and comprised fifteen questions segmented into a sociodemographic part and the acceptance and influencing factors of the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine.

13 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
29 Jun 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the most promising therapeutic targets being repurposed against COVID-19 and viral elements that are used in CoV-19 vaccine candidates were identified as a potential target against the current highly contagious viral infection.
Abstract: In December 2019, a highly transmissible, pneumonia epidemic caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), erupted in China and other countries, resulting in devastation and health crisis worldwide currently. The search and using existing drugs support to curb the current highly contagious viral infection is spirally increasing since the pandemic began. This is based on these drugs had against other related RNA-viruses such as MERS-Cov, and SARS-Cov. Moreover, researchers are scrambling to identify novel drug targets and discover novel therapeutic options to vanquish the current pandemic. Since there is no definitive treatment to control Covid-19 vaccines are remain to be a lifeline. Currently, many vaccine candidates are being developed with most of them are reported to have positive results. Therapeutic targets such as helicases, transmembrane serine protease 2, cathepsin L, cyclin G-associated kinase, adaptor-associated kinase 1, two-pore channel, viral virulence factors, 3-chymotrypsin-like protease, suppression of excessive inflammatory response, inhibition of viral membrane, nucleocapsid, envelope, and accessory proteins, and inhibition of endocytosis were identified as a potential target against COVID-19 infection. This review also summarizes plant-based medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 such as saposhnikoviae divaricata, lonicerae japonicae flos, scutellaria baicalensis, lonicera japonicae, and some others. Thus, this review aimed to focus on the most promising therapeutic targets being repurposed against COVID-19 and viral elements that are used in COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

12 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A two-dose regimen of BNT162b2 conferred 95% protection against Covid-19 in persons 16 years of age or older and safety over a median of 2 months was similar to that of other viral vaccines.
Abstract: Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) have afflicted tens of millions of people in a world...

10,274 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials.

3,741 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The mRNA-1273 vaccine induced anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune responses in all participants, and no trial-limiting safety concerns were identified, which support further development of this vaccine.
Abstract: Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late 2019 and spread globally, prompting an international effort to accelerate development of a vacci...

2,556 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The safety and immunogenicity data from this U.S. phase 1 trial of two vaccine candidates in younger and older adults support the selection of BNT162b2 for advancement to a pivotal phase 2–3 safety and efficacy evaluation.
Abstract: Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and the resulting disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), have spread to millions of persons worldw...

1,939 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Developing Covid-19 Vaccines at Pandemic Speed An ideal vaccine platform would support development from viral sequencing to clinical trials in less than 16 weeks, demonstrate elicitation of consistency in clinical trials and support development of new vaccines at pandemic speed.
Abstract: Developing Covid-19 Vaccines at Pandemic Speed An ideal vaccine platform would support development from viral sequencing to clinical trials in less than 16 weeks, demonstrate elicitation of consist...

1,204 citations