Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that the first COVID-19 vaccine can prevent more than 90 percent of people from getting infected.
The vaccine according to the companies has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns have been raised.
Two doses, three weeks apart, are needed and trials in the US, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and Turkey show 90 percent protection is achieved seven days after the second dose.
In a press statement, Pfizer and BioNTech reveal that they “are continuing to accumulate safety data and currently estimate that a median of two months of safety data following the second (and final) dose of the vaccine candidate – the amount of safety data specified by the FDA in its guidance for potential Emergency Use Authorization – will be available by the third week of November.
“Additionally, participants will continue to be monitored for long-term protection and safety for an additional two years after their second dose.
“Along with the efficacy data generated from the clinical trial, Pfizer and BioNTech are working to prepare the necessary safety and manufacturing data to submit to the FDA to demonstrate the safety and quality of the vaccine product produced.”
Based on current projections by both pharmaceutical companies, they are expected to produce globally up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021.
This is good news as a vaccine could be may be needed to stop the second wave of COVID-19 which has seen governments of the UK and Germany impose partial or full lockdown.
