Pfizer and BioNTech have their own offerings for hundreds of millions of shots.
The first two Covid-19 vaccines at the door have now delivered positive news in the quest to end the pandemic. Encouraging late-stage test results from Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. set a high bar for rivals such as AstraZeneca Plc, which are expected to follow up soon with their own pivotal reports.
The data is likely to increase confidence that more vaccines will work and that the world will soon find a way to control the coronavirus. This is what we know about the two shots.
How do the results compare?
Moderna said Monday that its vaccine was 94.5% effective in a preliminary analysis. That compares favorably with the high level reached a week earlier by Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech SE. The injection created by the American and German companies was found to be more than 90% effective. Data from Moderna showed that side effects were generally short-lived and there were no significant safety concerns, while no severe cases of Covid developed among trial participants who received the vaccine. US regulators released guidance earlier this year saying that any shot should be at least 50% effective.
What do the two vaccines have in common?
Both injections are based on a technology called messenger RNA that has never before been used to develop an approved vaccine. The approach is designed to transform the body’s own cells in vaccine manufacturing factories. Vaccines instruct cells to make copies of the coronavirus spike protein, stimulating the creation of protective antibodies.
What is the difference between them?
Moderna received $ 955 million from the United States’ Operation Warp Speed program. Pfizer has said it did not receive any federal funding to develop its vaccine, although BioNTech obtained up to 375 million euros ($ 444 million) in aid from the German government. Still, Pfizer has struck a supply deal with the US worth nearly $ 2 billion. The United States agreed to pay up to $ 1.53 billion to purchase supplies from the Moderna outlet.
What are the warehousing and distribution challenges?
Once vaccines are approved, the effort to immunize hundreds of millions of people will have to overcome a number of other obstacles. The storage and distribution of some of the products is complex. Pfizer vaccine should be stored ultra cold for up to a few days before use, but can be kept at refrigerator temperature for up to five days. Moderna, for her part, pointed to new data showing her vaccine is stable at refrigerator temperature for 30 days, much longer than the previously estimated seven days. It can be stored in freezers for the longer term and does not need the special facilities required for the Pfizer vaccine.
Where will the vaccines go first?
Initially, global demand for vaccines is expected to far exceed supplies despite significant efforts to increase production ahead of time. Moderna has already reached agreements to supply 100 million doses to the United States and 80 million to the European Union, among others. The UK said on Monday that it is negotiating with the company, but that no doses will be available in the country until next spring at the earliest. Pfizer and BioNTech have their own offerings for hundreds of millions of shots.
When could they be ready to deploy?
The results are preliminary, but both Moderna and Pfizer are expected to apply for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration if further review shows that their vaccines are safe. Moderna said it could request authorization from regulators in the coming weeks. Pfizer expects to get two months of safety tracking data in the third week of November. If all goes well, Pfizer could apply for an authorization in the US this month.
What are the big questions that remain?
There are a number of obstacles that should be overcome to immunize hundreds of millions of people. It is still uncertain how long protection against potential vaccines would last and how many people would refuse to roll up their sleeves once a vaccine is given. Health advocates worry that growing doubts about Covid vaccines could hamper the launch. Increasing production and distributing doses also pose challenges.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
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