News

Covid-19 vaccine proven to be 90% effective at immunising against the virus

JUST IN.

Published

4 years ago

November 9, 2020

In some good news today, a Covid-19 vaccine has been proven to be 90% effective at immunising against the virus.

This is based on results from final ‘stage three’ human trials by drug company Pfizer and German biotech firm BioNTech.

According to developers, results showed ‘initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent Covid-19.’
Pfizer chairman and CEO Dr Albert Bourla called it ‘a great day for science and humanity’.

Efficacy in the majority of participants, safety data and consistent manufacturing are the three requirements that are needed before we are able to file for Emergency Use Authorization.
— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) November 9, 2020

He continued: “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.

“We look forward to sharing additional efficacy and safety data generated from thousands of participants in the coming weeks.”

In further good news, Ian Jones, a professor of virology at the University of Reading, added that the Pfizer trial data shows ‘really impressive protection and no reported adverse events’.

No10 says they've procured 40m doses of this Pfizer vaccine – 10m of which is available be the end of the year (assume it's safe).

In the meantime the NHS is preparing for a vaccine rollout where those most at risk get it first.
— Shehab Khan (@ShehabKhan) November 9, 2020

He said: “Of all the current vaccines currently in development the BioNtech product always looked like the most bang-per-buck as it is entirely focused on the part of the virus that binds to the human cell, the receptor binding domain.

“The questions around its use were about the ability to manufacture at scale and the possible toxicity associated with a directly injected RNA product.

“The trial data show excellent results in both of those areas, really impressive protection and no reported adverse events.

“The only things we will not know for some time is the longevity of the response in all age groups, but assuming antibody titres are high that should be at least as good as any other vaccine currently in trial.”