Achievements, Challenges and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Review Study

Studies indicate that vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infection with COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to provide vaccination considerations of patients with autoimmune/autoinflammatory rheumatologic diseases, immunodeficiencies, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases for doctors, healthcare staff, and patients..

In this review study, a search was done in scientific electronic databases such as ISI, Google scholar, Scopus, and PubMed. The most up-to-date, relevant, and   reliable articles published in 2019-2022 were used on the topic of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination of patients with certain diseases.

Patients with autoimmune diseases should be vaccinated against COVID-19 when the disease activity is under control and there is no co-infection. Mild immunosuppression does not reduce the antibody response to vaccines. Vaccination with all types of vaccines except for live attenuated vaccines is effective for all cancer patients, with the exception of those receiving anti-B cell therapy. Moreover, vaccination of individuals with comorbidities (obesity, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and diabetes) which increase the risk of severe COVID-19 is recommended.

The best way to deal with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is to increase vaccination coverage to induce immune responses against this virus. It is recommended that patients with immune system defects, people who take immunosuppressive drugs, and the elderly receive booster doses of the Corona vaccine.