An overview of the ongoing challenges in SARS-CoV-2 global control

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a severe global pandemic with major public health issues. Public health sectors implemented several control strategies, such as social distancing, hygienic measures, and the development of anti-viral drugs and vaccines. However, the situation is still critical due to several challenges facing the global control strategy. SARS-CoV-2 has undergone several mutations that will drive viral evolution, which might impact the virus’s transmissibility and pathogenicity and the immune escape and development of resistance to therapeutics. Moreover, although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved several vaccines, however, some vaccines, especially vector-based vaccines, have rarely induced severe fatal side effects. These side effects led to widespread doubts about the safety of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines, which in turn dragged a certain proportion of the public from getting vaccinated. This review highlights some of the ongoing challenges in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, including side effects of the developed vaccines, potential mechanisms for the development of thrombocytopenia, and the clinical impacts of the emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants on the pathogenesis of the virus and vaccine efficacy. Additionally, we discuss the comorbidity and the potential role of gastrointestinal microbiota in controlling SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we shed light on the substantial collateral health damage and unprecedented economic disaster caused by the lockdown.