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The vaccine, jointly developed by the US company Pfizer and the German company BioNTech, has shown 90% efficacy in the third phase of its clinical trials, world agencies reported.
Its effect was measured by comparing the number of people infected with COVID-19 who were vaccinated with the drug compared to a control group that received placebo.
This is an intermediate analysis. The tests reflect the results of 94 infected people in a study of about 44,000 people in the United States and five other countries.
The vaccine consists of two doses, the second is given three weeks after the first. Protection appears seven days after the second dose, tests show. Experts expect the vaccine to build immunity for at least a year.
About 12 vaccines are currently in the final third phase of clinical trials, four of which are in the United States. However, this is the first vaccine with concrete promising results.
The company will seek urgent approval for its use and will aim to produce around 50 million units by the end of the year and around 1.2 billion by the end of 2021.
Manufacturers will have to deal with logistical problems, as the vaccine requires storage at temperatures below 80 degrees Celsius.
US President-elect Joe Biden called the news that the COVID-19 vaccine was 90% effective as “cause for hope” but warned of a long battle ahead.
“I congratulate the brilliant women and men who helped make this breakthrough and who gave us cause for hope. At the same time, it is important to understand that the battle against COVID-19 is still months away,” Biden said in a statement.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump welcomed the “big news.”
THE LARGE STOCK MARKET AND VACCINES SOON. REPORT 90% EFFECTIVE. SO GOOD NEWS!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2020
The news of the vaccine comes amid more than 50 million coronavirus infections worldwide.
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