Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an illness caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which rapidly has evolved. WHO declared COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern in 2020, which prompted rapid vaccine development utilizing many different technological platforms, and rolling regulatory review. Despite international efforts, vaccine nationalism played a major role in Europe having sufficient doses to protect its most vulnerable elderly and those with several underlying risk factors. The mRNA vaccines were particularly efficient and safe, and were able to save millions of lives during the early years of the pandemic. Presently the virus has further evolved, and populations have become mostly immune by natural contact with the virus and multiple doses of vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines are still tailored annually to match the most common circulating viruses and countries offer them to those most vulnerable, i.e. elderly and persons with multiple risk factors. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic offers several lessons to learn, which are crucial in building more resilient systems and in preparation for the next pandemic.