Hope for a vaccine: Pfizer reports ‘90% efficacy’ in preventing Covid-19

Pfizer expects to begin rolling out the vaccine by the end of the year

A vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech has shown to be 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 infections.

The results of the vaccine’s ongoing Phase 3 trials have exceeded experts’ expectations, who projected a 50%-60% effectiveness rating. According to the World Health Organisation, no vaccine is 100% effective – the U.S’s FDA criteria for vaccines demands an efficacy of at least 50 per cent in placebo-controlled trials.

Protection in patients who received the Pfizer vaccine was achieved seven days after the second of two doses, according to preliminary findings.

Pfizer chairman and CEO Albert Bourla released a statement on the findings, saying: “We are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis.

“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most,” Bourla added.

Based on supply projections, the companies have said they expect to supply up to 50 million vaccine doses globally in 2020, and up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021.

The vaccine could be available for use by the end of the year if given the green light. Ugur Sahin, co-founder and chief executive of BioNTech,  told the Financial Times that the drug would be submitted to authorities for emergency approval within a matter of weeks.

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