Principles and new perspectives in the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 virus

It has been a year since the first person on Earth became infected with a new type of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, causing infectious acute respiratory disease COVID-19 with relatively high morbidity and mortality. The most endangered population by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are healthcare professionals, the elderly and people with associated comorbidities. Due to the fast community spread, governments of different European countries introduced precaution measures including limited socializing of people, closing of most public services and introducing mandatory facial protection. The hope for a return to the life before the pandemic is the development of an effective and safe vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 which would presumably reduce the incidence of severe forms of COVID-19 and prevent the massive spread of the disease. At the end of November, we have 13 clinical trials in phase III involving SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on inactivated viruses, recombinant non-pathogenic viral vectors and proteins. The first mRNA-based vaccine is currently being evaluated in phase II/III clinical trial and is already being distributed and applied to high-risk population in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel, followed by the countries of the European Union, including the Czech Republic. In the review article we present currently ongoing clinical studies with a special focus on the phase III clinical trials and discuss the mechanisms of action of each type of vaccine.