A vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech SE against the COVID-19 has claimed 90% effectiveness.
“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,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said.
"We are proud to announce, along with BioNTech Group, that our mRNA-based vaccine candidate has, at an interim analysis, demonstrated initial evidence of efficacy against COVID19 in participants without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection," posted Pfizer on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (CEO) Director-General has called the news encouraging.
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"We welcome the encouraging vaccine news and salute all scientists & partners around the globe who are developing new safe, efficacious tools to beat #COVID19. The Earth is experiencing unprecedented scientific innovation & collaboration to end the pandemic!" stated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
However, Pfizer and BioNTech are still awaiting data on safety. The safety data of the coronavirus vaccine can come later this month. After the safety data arrives, Pfizer and BioNTech will need to get regulators to sign off on their coronavirus vaccine shot before shipping them across the world. "There are 3 critical areas where we must demonstrate success before filing for EUA of our COVID-19 vaccine. Evidence of efficacy in most vaccinated patients. Evidence of safety w/ data from thousands of patients. Manufactured consistently at the highest quality standards," the company stated.