Pfizer is announcing what they call “a first but critical step as we continue our work to try to deliver a safe and effective #COVID19 vaccine.” The company says in the late-stage of their trials “The vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first interim efficacy analysis.” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says:
“Today is a great day for both science and humanity, as the first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides compelling evidence of our vaccine’s ability to help prevent COVID-19.”
Pfizer’s purpose is breakthroughs that change patients’ lives, and I cannot think of a breakthrough that could change more lives today than a COVID-19 Vaccine.
— Albert Bourla (@AlbertBourla) November 9, 2020
The Associated Press writes:
Monday’s announcement doesn’t mean a vaccine is imminent: This interim analysis, from an independent data monitoring board, looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. and five other countries.
While some people connected with the Trump administration are trying to take credit for this vaccine today, it’s interesting to note that Pfizer’s trial was not connected to “Operation Warp Speed.” Kathrin Jansen, a senior vice president and the head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer spoke with the New York Times about this:
Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort to rush a vaccine to market, has promised Pfizer $1.95 billion to deliver 100 million doses to the federal government, which will be given to Americans free of charge. But Dr. Jansen sought to distance the company from Operation Warp Speed and presidential politics, noting that the company — unlike the other vaccine front-runners — did not take any federal money to help pay for research and development.
“We were never part of the Warp Speed,” she said. “We have never taken any money from the U.S. government, or from anyone.”
President-elect Biden congratulates Pfizer on its progress on a vaccine but reminds Americans in a statement that “it will be many more months before there is widespread vaccination in this country,” so they need to continue “masking, distancing, contact tracing, hand washing.”
— Jenna Johnson (@wpjenna) November 9, 2020
Meanwhile, Wall Street futures were already up on the news that Joe Biden was elected president, this news from Pfizer caused the markets to soar even more. Watch above to see what Pfizer’s CEO told CNBC about this hopeful news.