Comparative characteristics of COVID-19 vaccines

Background. The outbreak of the disease, caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, began in mid-December 2019 in China. The infection quickly spread around the world and became a global pandemic, causing “the greatest quarantine in human history”. Nevertheless, the pandemic continues, and in some countries, there are repeated waves of rising incidence. Less than 12 months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several research groups accepted the challenge and developed vaccines that protect against SARS-CoV-2. The purpose was to compare the main vaccines against COVID-19. Materials and methods. Existing instructions for vaccines, intermediate results of vaccine efficacy studies, as well as recommendations of the WHO, EMA, CDC and others were used. A comparative analysis of existing data on COVID-19 vaccines was performed. Results. A comparative description of the composition of vaccines and their mechanism of action, storage temperature, indications and contraindications to vaccination, vaccination regimens and methods of vaccination, vaccination efficacy, side effects, prevention in contact persons and in patients who have become ill has been made. Conclusions. The identified features of the composition of vaccines and their usage can be used in immunoprophylaxis against COVID-19