Box 1.

Key terminology.

Prototype COVID-19 vaccine: a vaccine based on the original SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Modified/variant COVID-19 vaccine: A vaccine against a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern for which the change is only in the prototype vaccine’s virus strain without changes in the manufacturing process, controls and the facilities for vaccine production.

Next-generation COVID-19 vaccine: A vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 that includes a polyvalent vaccine (covering multiple serotypes) and a vaccine based on novel technology platforms that may be based on a different route of administration (for example, intradermal, intranasal or oral), compared to first generation vaccines, which are administered intramuscularly.