Pfizer claims vaccine is now 95 percent effective, plans to submit for FDA approval

World

Published: 2020-11-18 15:00

Last Updated: 2024-03-29 06:24


Pfizer claims vaccine is now 95 percent effective, plans to submit for FDA approval
Pfizer claims vaccine is now 95 percent effective, plans to submit for FDA approval

Wednesday, Pfizer announced that final data analysis proved their COVID-19 vaccine to be 95 percent effective in preventing coronavirus and other diseases.

The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, named BNT162b2, is said to be effective in combating the virus 29 days after the initial dose is taken. In the elderly, the vaccine was more than 94 percent effective.

The news comes following the previous announcement that the vaccine was 90 percent effective.

Another US company, Moderna, claimed Monday their vaccine was 94.5 percent effective.

BioNTech CEO, Ugur Sahin made a statement regarding the vaccine.

“The data indicates that our vaccine ... is able to induce a high rate of protection against COVID-19 only 29 days after the first dose. In addition, the vaccine was observed to be well-tolerated in all age groups with mostly mild to moderate side effects, which may be due in part to the relatively low dose," said Sahin.

The final data analysis evaluated 170 confirmed infections in the late-stage trial’s between more than 43,000 participants. Researchers said 162 of these cases belonged in the placebo group versus and eight cases belonged in the group that received two doses of the vaccine.

Medical specialists have yet to uncover how long immunity will be provided from these vaccines and whether people will need periodic vaccines.

Pfizer will submit an emergency authorization application to the American Food and Drug Administration in the next few days, says CEO Albert Bourla Tuesday.