In the year 2020, the ‘novel’ virus kept us contained in our homes for months—re-establishing our relationship with the outside world, the government and even each other. This mysterious virus claimed millions of lives, weakened economies and forced businesses and borders shut. Paradoxically, it presented a revived appreciation for the outdoors, life’s simple pleasure, and less polarisation—the fight was us against the virus. To some people, the advent of a pandemic was a grim inevitability and wasn’t shocking. These unsurprised people were scientists. Those schooled in infectious diseases declared that the virus genome was written in RNA, not DNA. The strong commitment of the scientific community to addressing COVID-19 disease led to the publication of 27,255 manuscripts by June 2020. This is just as essential as the actual development of a vaccine because potential therapeutic approaches require understanding the virus’ mechanism of action. Academic institutions, biotech companies, and vaccine manufacturers rose to the challenge and started their race against time. After thorough deliberation, the most extensive portfolio of vaccines was created using several platform technologies – inactivated virus, mRNA, DNA, protein subunit, and other newer technologies.