Heterologous Prime-boost Approach for COVID-19 Vaccine-A Light at the End of the Tunnel?

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 disease has emerged as a health crisis globally. The absence of specific antiviral treatment to cure COVID-19 has emphasized the importance of providing a safe and effective vaccine, they are the best bet to save millions of lives. The heterologous prime-boost approach for the COVID-19 vaccine is in the limelight as it can overcome issues with the shortage in the supply of vaccines and enhances the antibody response and potency of the prevailing COVID-19 vaccines, thus helping the acceleration of COVID-19 vaccine drive throughout the globe to achieve herd immunity among the population. This review aims to discuss the history, mechanism, and current scenario of the application of the heterologous prime-boost approach for the COVID-19 vaccine. From data inception to August 2021, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, WHO worldwide research on COVID-19, and the clinical trials registration "https//clinicaltrials.gov/" were used to conduct the systematic search by using keywords "COVID-19,"heterologous," and "vaccine." The heterologous prime-boost vaccination approach seems to be a silver lining that has the potential to ensure the suitable vaccine is delivered to the right people during times of pandemic. © 2021, SILAE (Italo-Latin American Society of Ethnomedicine). All rights reserved.