Huge news, folks: A potential COVID-19 vaccine appears to be 90% effective in preventing infection, according to a preliminary report.
That’s some extremely promising news for basically everyone, including Australia, which has pre-ordered 10 million doses of the stuff.
The New York Times reports Pfizer, which is developing a potential vaccine with manufacturer BioNTech, says its formulation seems to be extremely good at keeping folks from contracting the virus.
Pfizer added that no serious health or safety concerns have been identified.
While you may be rolling up your sleeves and locating your nearest GP, there is one extremely huge caveat. This is all early data, and the NYT states we don’t yet have a handle on its potential long-term impacts or the duration of its effectiveness against the virus.
But, good news is good news, and we’ll take what we can get.
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On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia had inked a deal with Pfizer and BioNTech guaranteeing Australians access to the potential vaccine if it’s “proven safe and effective.”
In addition, Australia has also teed up preemptive deals with three other initiatives, each hoping to formulate the coronavirus-busting sauce we all want coursing through our veins.
The Pfizer trial is expected to kick on for a while to come, and the company will only think about concluding the study after 164 people contract the virus out of its testing sample size of 44,000 volunteers.
The company has also advised that initial efficacy rate of 90% – which is higher than the standard flu vaccine – could dip as testing wears on.
Still. I am sick of this virus, and I’m sure you are, too. Let’s get it done.
