8 Main Types of COVID Vaccines—Which Vaccines Are Approved for COVID-19?

8 Main Types of COVID Vaccines—Which Vaccines Are Approved for COVID-19? gettyimages

At present, four types of COVID-19 vaccines have been developed or are in development. They include viral vector vaccines, nucleic acid vaccines, subunit vaccines, and whole virus vaccines. They each have two subtypes, so there are eight subtypes of vaccines.

1.) Nucleic acid vaccines

Nucleic acid vaccines use the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s genetic materials (either RNA or DNA and usually the COVID-19 spike protein) to instruct the cells to make the antigen. They are relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture. However, this is a new technology, so the overall safety of the vaccines has to be assessed, especially over the long term. 

Also, nucleic acid vaccines need to be stored at ultra-low temperatures (i.e. below negative 70 degrees Celsius), which can make them unavailable in low-income countries that lack storage facilities.

a.) DNA-based

 The genetic materials used are the virus’s DNA. So far, the World Health Organization hasn’t approved any DNA-based COVID-19 vaccines.

b.) RNA-based

The mRNA vaccines are delivered with a lipid nanoparticle formulation, to protect the RNA strands and help cells absorb them. However, lipid nanoparticles have been suggested to be highly inflammatory, which might have contributed to the increased cases of pericarditis and myocarditis among vaccinated individuals.