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Moderna reports a 94.5 percent effectiveness of its vaccination. Switzerland has already reserved 4.5 million cans. The active ingredient will be manufactured in Valais.
At the moment, the trials with Moderna’s vaccination are still running, but the first interim results are already available.
Photo: Keystone
One week after Pfizer / Biontech, the interim results of a second Covid vaccine are known. Moderna has achieved an effectiveness of 94.5 percent, as stated. Switzerland has already signed a vaccine supply contract with Moderna. The Swiss pharmaceutical supplier Lonza produces the active ingredient for this.
The pressing questions of how long vaccination protection lasts have yet to be answered. And: if the vaccine is only used for self-protection or if it also prevents the transmission of the coronavirus to others. If this were the case, the pandemic could be stopped more quickly.
Currently, there are two very promising vaccine candidates against Covid-19. First, the German biotechnology company Biontech and its US partner Pfizer presented data on their vaccine. Consequently, it offers more than 90 percent protection against Covid-19.. The companies want to apply for emergency approval from the US FDA in November.
Like the Pfizer / Biontech vaccine, Moderna’s is gene-based: it contains a copy of the coronavirus genetic information (mRNA), with the blueprint of its outer viral proteins. As a result, the vaccinated person produces the virus surface himself, which means that his own immune system reacts and begins defense against the coronavirus. This does not imply any interference with the human genome, as mRNA degrades rapidly.
The vaccination method is novel and is being tested in humans for the first time in the ongoing clinical studies of Moderna and Pfizer / Biontech.
Switzerland has reserved 4.5 million cans
Last Friday, Moderna had a request for a call Continuous authorization procedure submitted to the Swiss authorization authority Swissmedic. In this process, data is submitted while clinical trials are ongoing, not at the end, to speed up the process.
Swissmedic is also currently testing vaccines from Pfizer / Biontech and AstraZeneca.
Switzerland was one of the first countries to order Moderna vaccines: 4.5 million doses are reserved. Basel pharmaceutical supplier Lonza contacted, The Moderna vaccine will be produced at the company’s facilities. In addition, Switzerland has obtained 5.3 million doses of the vaccine from the British pharmaceutical company Astra-Zeneca. Negotiations are still ongoing with Biontech and Pfizer.
If all goes well, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) hopes to start vaccinating from the first half of 2021.
