COVID-19: CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ON VACCINES AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The global pandemic Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is being transmitted aggressively in forms of progressive waves even after the 1.5 years of its occurrence. Development of vaccine has nearly concluded the prevention of mortality in suffered patients. Along with vaccination, the prevention of further transmission is aimed by several countries with the help of social distancing, bearing a mask and appropriate sanitization. In absence of any specific treatment, this study was needed to compile the available research in relation to transmission, etiology, pathophysiology, and the available options to clinically manage the patients suffering from COVID-19. Newly identified β-coronavirus has genomic similarities with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Such similarity made basis for new virus to be known as SARS-Corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). A total of 40,12,863 people globally amongst 18,32,34,647 infected population have lost their life till 20th June 2021. The prime mechanism of transmission was alleged to be animal to human transmission. Thereafter, consequent cases were not related with such transmission concluding human to human exposure. CDC (Disease Control and Prevention) investigated the first case of Wuhan and interpreted that incubation period could range generally from three to seven days and lasts until 2 weeks and the lengthiest time from contamination to symptoms was found to be 12.5 days. The virus bears crown like glycoprotein’s spike on its envelop and hence it is termed corona from coronam (Latin) meaning crown in English. There is no treatment available currently for COVID-19 either in form of vaccine or in form of antiviral drug. The symptomatic relief is only the option to deal with the disease. Oxygen therapy remains the major intervention for severe patients. Convalescent plasma or immunoglobulins were used to enhance the rate of survival in SARS patients. Chloroquine, Ruxolitinib, Baricitinib and fedratinib claimed to lower the symptoms in associate pneumonia. A very few patients have been enrolled in clinical trials. No scientific evidence so far exists to support the chance of vertical transmission of COVID-19 contamination from the pregnant mother to the baby. Sustaining staff mental well-being is crucial to better control infections, even though the best approach to combat with this through the epidemic time remains blurred. Vaccines seem to be most promising solution to attenuate newer strains of corona virus. The recognition of genomic sequence as well study of protein structure of corona virus-2019, were studied in very lesser time. This allowed the development of inactivated or live attenuated vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19.