[A preview of COVID-19 vaccination and treatment]

ABSTRACT

Vaccination or recent exposure to infection with SARS-CoV-2 currently grants the vast majority of the population considerable immunity and thereby protection against severe disease. It is yet unknow how long this protection lasts. Continuous changes of the viral genotype and phenotype herein play an important role, in particular the variant-specific alterations of the spike protein. Protection by T-cell immunity seems to be more preserved in the event of changes in the virus as compared to antibody-mediated host defences. Furthermore, the continuous succession of virus variants also directly and indirectly affects the effectiveness of medical treatment. Regarding immune-modulating as well as anti-viral therapy, the viral characteristics of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant in combination with the level of host immunity will determine whether their use makes sense, and for which patients. The number of patients needed to treat to prevent a clinically negative outcome herein represents an important figure.