COVID-19 Vaccine Created By Pfizer Is 90% Effective

The race to find a vaccine for Coronavirus continues. According to The Wall Street Journal, a vaccine created by Pfizer and BioNTech SE was more than 90% effective in 94 subjects who were infected by the coronavirus and had developed at least one symptom. The company plans to ask health regulators for permission to sell the shot before the end of this month if the vaccine is safe.

“Hopefully, now we can move on and get this vaccine out there and make sure it’s doing what it’s supposed to do and stop the virus,” said Kathrin Jansen, head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer.

According to The Guardian, Pfizer expects to supply up to 50 million vaccine doses globally and up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. The vaccine requires two doses.

“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,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer chairman and chief executive.

After the news of the trial results, vice-president Mike Pence claimed that their administration Operation Warp speed initiative had helped with the vaccine’s development. Pfizer denied.

“We were never part of the Warp Speed,” Jansen said. “We have never taken any money from the US government, or from anyone.”

Boris Johnson, UK’s prime minister warned that people should not assume that the pandemic is over and must continue to follow lockdown restrictions.

“We can’t let out enthusiasm run away with us,” said Johnson.

Not too many people are thrilled about the vaccine, and some are afraid that the vaccine may become mandatory. According to the New York Law Journal, New York State Bar Association passed a resolution on Saturday urging the state to consider making it mandatory for all New Yorkers once the vaccine becomes available.

“For now, while I have a choice, I wouldn’t volunteer for it,” said Toni Mosley, a corrections officer in Florida. “I would not trust any vaccines that comes under the Trump administration unless Dr. Fauci approved it as safe and effective since he is the leading expert in the pandemic.”

Studies have involved a diverse group of participants. According to The Guardian, approximately 42% of global participants and 30% of US participants in the trials have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The most important question that scientists want to know is: how long the vaccine will last. Pfizer plans to observe patients for two years after their second dose.

BioNTech was created by two married German scientists Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci; and Austrian oncologist Christopher Huber.