mRNA Vaccine Review against COVID-19 with Potential Applications to Improve Efficacy and Targeting

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus is the cause of the pandemic that has affected over 213 countries and there are over 21 million confirmed cases in the United States. Intense research efforts and funding have been placed into diagnostic, prevention, and treatment options. This review evaluates mRNA vaccines, their advantages, limitations, and current progress towards vaccine production. We included current methods of mRNA vaccine production and introduce potential changes in vaccine delivery methods currently being developed to specifically aid in targeting the coronavirus. We evaluated various routes of administration and their potential to allow vaccines to reach the immune system and induce an immune response to produce antibodies and provide immunity. Safety and efficacy have been evaluated in this review of various mRNA clinical trials that aimed to determine if mRNA vaccines can cause antibody production and the types of adverse events associated with them. Although mRNA vaccines are not perfect in design, the possibilities they offer in advancing vaccine research and fighting other viral infections while improving immunity are worth further research.