SARS-CoV-2 Variants, Vaccines, and Host Immunity

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new beta coronavirus that emerged at the end of 2019 in the Hubei province of China. SARS-CoV-2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Herd or community immunity has been proposed as a strategy to protect the vulnerable, and can be established through immunity from past infection or vaccination. Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection results in the development of a reservoir of resilient memory cells is under investigation. Vaccines have been developed at an unprecedented rate and 7 408 870 760 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. Recently emerged…

• BA
  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

  Award: INV-022216
• NR
  National Research Foundation

  Award: MND200610530106
• SA
  South African Medical Research Council

  Award: A1A982
• UO
  University of Pretoria

  Award: A1A982
• DA
  Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
• MR
  Medical Research Council