With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the world entered a new, challenging era where people had to change their life habits to protect themselves and others. Given the lacking treatment methods and the clinical manifestations of the disease the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was designated as the most important factor in controlling the pandemic. A large number of vaccines based on different platforms are under development and at different stages of clinical research, including some candidates that were manufactured by use of technologies not previously utilized for vaccine production. Rapid detection of the molecular characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, comprehensive analysis of the pathogenesis of the disease and its clinical manifestation, and scarce therapeutic options have enabled extremely rapid progress in vaccine development, also aided by large financial resources. Reviewing the characteristics of different vaccine development platforms, understanding the way an immune response is generated remains key for the mass vaccination against this dangerous pathogen. The problems we are facing today will also be important for responding more quickly to various potential pandemics in the future. In this review, an emphasis is placed on showing why some platforms are more suitable than others, that is, to explain what are the advantages that some platforms have in comparison to others when it comes to developing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.