As COVID-19 pandemic ravages the globe, eyes turn to vaccines as the most effective way to end the public health emergency. With the strict timeline set by the ever-deteriorating state of global health, COVID-19 vaccine development has seen some of the fastest, most innovative advances in the history of immunology. As our most powerful tool in returning us to the normal routines of life, understanding how vaccines are developed and distributed is critical. While hundreds of millions suffer at the hand of COVID-19, we all wonder: when will a vaccine become available? Let's take a deep dive into the path to COVID-19 immunization - from knowledge to needle.