The coronavirus vaccine being worked on by Pfizer and BioNTech is 90 percent effective against COVID-19, the manufacturers have claimed. This vaccine is currently in phrase three of testing and is just one more step away from being approved.
Trials were run in which some patients were given this experimental vaccine and others were injected with a placebo. The American company then claim that the results showed a 90 percent effectiveness rate, well above that which most experts thought was possible.
The company says there have been no serious side-effects either
“Today is a great day for science and humanity,” Pfizer CEO Dr Albert Bourla said. “The first set of results from our phase three COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19.
“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development programme at a time when the world needs it most, with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.” There have been more than 50 million confirmed coronavirus cases across the planet, and over 1.2 million deaths.
“I congratulate the brilliant women and men who helped produce this breakthrough and to give us so much cause for hope,” US president-elect Joe Biden said when he addressed the news.
“It is also important to understand that the end of the battle against COVID-19 is still months away. A mask remains a more potent weapon against the virus than a vaccine. Today’s news does not change this urgent reality.”
There is still work to be done and the company is working on assembling the safety data that is still required. This is expected to take until the end of November, after which approval will be sought for this vaccine to be used on people between the ages of 16 and 85.
They are planning to produce 50 million doses this year, which would be enough for 25 million people since it requires two doses. Then, the plan is for 1.3 billion doses to be manufactured before the end of 2021.
