Current Science

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A few front-runner vaccines for COVID-19 have reported over 90% protection in phase II/III clinical trials, raising hopes. These studies, however, have evaluated only a relative, not absolute, protection. The leading COVID-19 vaccines have been designed to elicit a systemic, not mucosal, immune response. While a systemic immune response may reduce disease severity, only the mucosal immune response can reduce the spreading of a respiratory viral infection. Here, we explain why inducing long-lasting and high-quality immune response to mucosal infections is typically challenging. A few possible solutions are proposed.

Keywords

COVID-19 Vaccines, Clinical Trials, Respiratory Viral Infection, Systemic and Mucosal Immune Response.
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