COVID Vaccines Show Promise

By Kaiden Tran, Features Editor

GENERO MOLINA/Los Angeles Times

On Monday, Nov. 9, news broke of the collaboration between pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and BioNTech, producing the greatest success rate of any tested vaccine against the COVID-19 virus. The current estimated success rate of their vaccine is at 95 percent; a groundbreaking accomplishment.

One week following the news of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine results, Moderna and Pfizer have released new percentages of their success rates. Both have been tested to be 95 percent positive to fight against the COVID-19 virus.

Since it’s initial impact, COVID-19 has caused a national pandemic which led nearly every country into quarantine. A total of 55.6 million cases have been reported along with 1.34 million deaths.

“I’ve seen some really good things. This is extraordinary,” Pfizer’s Senior Vice President of Vaccine Clinical Research and Development William Gruber said.

Currently, Pfizer and BioNTech are in Phase 3 of testing the vaccine from the works and successes of Phases 1 and 2. Phase 3 began on June 27 and is still ongoing.

The testing consisted of an initial 43,000 participants afflicted with the virus; round two enlisted 39,000 to receive a second dose. Pfizer also stated that, from these test participants, 42 percent of the global participants and 30 percent of the U.S. are racially and ethnically diverse.

“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla said. “Hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.”

Despite the grim outlook seen by medical professionals, members of the pharmaceutical industry see the possibility of light at the end of the tunnel.

“The first interim analysis of our global Phase 3 study provides evidence that a vaccine may effectively prevent COVID-19,” BioNTech co-founder and CEO Ugur Sahin said.

Since March, countries have been in a lockdown due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. Countries like the United States have had thousands of cases reported everyday steadily reaching new heights and setting fear in the hearts of millions.

With Phase 3 still underway, it is unsure what final result the two vaccines will produce, however doctors at these companies are working hard to ensure the safety of the world.