First Covid-19 Vaccine Could Be Available Before The End Of The Year

By Samantha in News On 9th November 2020
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Data from clinical trials suggest the first COVID-19 vaccine could be available by the end of this year and reportedly the vaccine will protect 90% of the people from this deadly virus. 



The vaccine has been developed by Pfizer and BioNTech and the UK has already ordered 30 million doses.



 
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Reports from the trials reveal the jabs have been tested out on 43,500 people in six countries, with no safety concerns detected - and only 94 people in the trial went on to develop Covid-19.


The two companies are now applying for emergency approval to roll out the vaccine before the end of this year. 

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If the vaccine is successful then Pfizer has announced that it will be able to manufacture 50 million doses by the end of the year and a further 1.3 billion by the end of 2021.


Ever since the COVID-19 disaster has hit the world, the pharmaceutical companies globally have been working on different vaccines and many tests trials have been conducted over the months, but this vaccine has been tested by an experimental approach by injecting part of the disease's genetic code into an individual in order to train the body's immune system.



 


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According to the results from the initial analysis, two doses, three weeks apart, are needed for it to be effective.


Trials have been conducted in countries like the US, UK, Argentina, Germany, South Africa, and Brazil, where the trial results show 900% effectiveness achieved a week after the second jab. 



There is, however, no definitive answer on how long the immunity lasts.






 



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However, questions have arisen over its delivery method as the vaccine needs to be stored at a temperature below 80C.



Speaking about the breakthrough, Dr. Albert Bourla, the chairman of Pfizer, said he hoped this would help bring about an end to the suffering being experienced around the world.




He said: "Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine's ability to prevent Covid-19.


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"With today's news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis.

"While we are all in the midst of a second wave and many of us in lockdown, we appreciate even more how important this milestone is on our path towards ending this pandemic and for all of us to regain a sense of normality."

A few weeks back Johnson and Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine was put on hold after one of the participants developed an 'unexplained illness'.