A COVID‑19 vaccine is a biotechnology product intended to provide acquired immunity against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). As of September 2020, there were 321 vaccine candidates in development, a 2.5 fold increase since April. However, no candidates have completed clinical trials to prove its safety and efficacy. In September, some 39 vaccine candidates were in clinical research, 33 in Phase I–II trials, and 6 in Phase II–III trials.Previous work to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus diseases SARS and MERS established considerable knowledge about the structure and function of coronaviruses – which accelerated rapid development during early 2020 of varied technology platforms for a COVID‑19 vaccine.The World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the Gates Foundation are committing money and organizational resources for the prospect that several vaccines will be needed to prevent continuing COVID‑19 infection. The CEPI, which is organizing a US$2 billion worldwide fund for rapid investment and development of...