Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine 90 percentage Effective
United States pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German biotech firm BioNTech have said their COVID-19 vaccine is over 90% effective, according to initial data from a large study.
United States pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German biotech firm BioNTech were working on a vaccine named BNT162b2. The phase 3 trials of this vaccine began on July 27 and had 43,538 participants, 38,955 of whom had received a second dose as of November 8. Pfizer has now said their COVID-19 vaccine is over 90% effective, according to initial data collected. Pfizer also said that analysis of the late-stage trial data showed that there were no serious safety concerns. The two companies are the first to show successful data from a large-scale clinical trial for the vaccine. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as several international regulators and health organizations have suggested that a Covid-19 vaccine has to be able to protect at least 50%. Pfizer’s vaccine is 90% effective so it is very possible the vaccine may be approved.
US FDA will review the vaccine later this month. After the review, it may be possible that the FDA will allow the vaccine to be used for urgent cases. The companies had started manufacturing doses ahead of regulatory approval and are expected to produce 50 million doses by 2020-end—enough to vaccinate 25 million people. By the end of 2021, the companies hope to produce 1.3 billion doses. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement, "With today's news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis."
US-based Moderna Inc. is also working on a COVID-19 vaccine. The results of their vaccine are expected later this month. Meanwhile, Phase III trial data for Oxford University and AstraZeneca's vaccine candidate is expected as early as next month. India's indigenous COVAXIN—developed by Bharat Biotech—is expected to be ready by February 2021.
