A COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE has been more than 90% effective in preventing symptomatic infections, according to Pfizer.
The American company and its German partner BioNTech SE are the first drugmakers to release successful data since the outbreak of the pandemic. The vaccine has been tested across 6 countries on 43,500 people.
The companies claim that there are no serious side-effects and are planning on applying for emergency approval before the end of the month. It has been suggested by regulators that, for a vaccine to be approved, it would have to be at least 50% effective.
Dr Albert Bourla, the Pfizer chairman and chief executive, said: “Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our phase 3 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.”
Image source: The Times
