Since the SARS-CoV-2 genome had been sequenced, researchers around the globe have been racing to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Traditional vaccine development can take up to 10 years to produce a safe and effective vaccine. Due to the obvious safety concerns presented by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), vaccine development has been deemed paramount to global security, and timelines for an effective vaccine are estimated to be 12-18 months. There are nearly 100 vaccine candidates under review at this very moment, however, many are still at the conceptual stage. Leading the pack are several promising vaccines in clinical trials, whose rapid development may very well reach completion under the 18-month timeline. Two questions stand out as many follow the vaccine race: how are scientists cutting down on so much development time and will the reduction in development ensure a safe vaccine? We will address these questions while learning who is leading the race in developing these vaccines, their development strategies, and the safety concerns researchers are addressing throughout manufacturing.
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