The COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines and the Pandemic: Do They Represent the Beginning of the End or the End of the Beginning?

In December 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorizations for two mRNA vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019. These vaccines represent an incredible scientific achievement and a major step in efforts to bring the global pandemic to a close. However, these vaccines create many logistical challenges that limit just how far-reaching their impact can be. This commentary reviews how these vaccines offer immunity, summarizes the Phase III trial results, and offers a discussion of the challenges that remain after these vaccines are introduced for widespread use.