Globally approved vaccines for COVID-19: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Virology and Immunology
• Public Health and Epidemiology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid vaccine development.
• Understanding the characteristics of approved vaccines is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze the general characteristics of globally approved COVID-19 vaccines.
• To summarize vaccine composition, dosage, efficacy, and adverse effects.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched MEDLINE and Web of Science for phase three studies (Jan 2020-June 2023).
• Included 11 studies on vaccines approved by WHO.

Main Results:

• All reviewed vaccines showed high efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19.
• Most vaccines reported mild to moderate adverse effects.
• Real-world effectiveness varied, with some vaccines demonstrating lower effectiveness than efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Approved COVID-19 vaccines are generally safe and effective.
• Vaccine composition, dosage, and study design influence outcomes.
• Efficacy data may not fully predict real-world impact.