Where 2020 saw the development and testing of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at an unprecedented pace, the first half of 2021 has seen vaccine rollout in many countries. In this Progress article, we provide a snapshot of ongoing vaccine efficacy studies, as well as real-world data on vaccine effectiveness and the impact of virus variants of concern. Where they have been deployed in a high proportion of the adult population, the currently approved vaccines have been extremely effective in preventing COVID-19, particularly severe disease. Nonetheless, there are still significant challenges in ensuring equitable vaccine access around the globe and lessons that can be learned for controlling this pandemic and for the next pandemic.

The spread of the virus SARS‐CoV‐2, the cause of COVID‐19 has triggered a tidal wave of vaccine development. In the first 9 months since the virus emerged over 200 vaccines have begun pre‐clinical development, 36 of which have entered clinical trials. This review will cover the platforms under assessment, the immune responses underpinning the vaccines, the results so far and the considerations for the next steps.

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