On Monday, Pfizer said an initial peek at the data on its COVID-19 vaccine suggests the shot maybe 90 percent effective at fighting COVID-19. The company will apply for emergency-use approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this month.
While pharmaceutical companies in various countries are racing to develop a vaccine against the virus, Dr. Bill Gruber, Pfizer senior vice president of clinical development said, “We’re in a position potentially to be able to offer some hope.”
The interim analysis from independent data monitored a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the US.
Authorities have stressed, it’s unlikely that vaccines will arrive before the end of the year. Questions like how long the vaccine’s effect will last and whether it protects older as well as younger people, still need to be answered. Dr Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, former chief of the FDA’s vaccine division said, “We need to see the data, but this is extremely promising.”
Goodman said, “If Pfizer’s vaccine ultimately pans out, “it’s going to be a while before this has a major impact at the population level.”
Trump, who had suggested during the presidential campaign that a vaccine would be ready by Election Day, tweeted on Monday, “Stock market up big, vaccine coming soon, Report 90% effective. Such great news.”
Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO said that the election was an artificial deadline and that the data was going to be ready when it was ready. He added, “I am very happy, but at the same time, sometimes I have tears in my eyes when I realise that this is the end of nine months, day-and-night work of so many people, and how many people, billions, invested hopes on this. I never thought it would be 90 percent.”
