Pfizer, BioNtech’s COVID-19 vaccine shows 95% efficacy in final analysis, say companies

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical company Pfizer along with its German collaborator BioNTech showed 95% efficacy, the companies said on Wednesday, CNN reported. The final analysis of the phase III trial showed that the vaccine was capable of preventing infections, even in older adults, with no serious health implications. 

Last week, the companies had announced their coronavirus vaccine candidate — BNT162b2 showed over 90% efficacy against the virus, a claim that stunned and elated people globally. 

In the trial, the company saw 170 coronavirus infections among volunteers. 162 of them were given a placebo while eight received the actual vaccine. 

Also read: Here’s what it is like to take part in COVID-19 vaccine trials

“Efficacy was consistent across age, race and ethnicity demographics. The observed efficacy in adults over 65 years of age was over 94%,” reported CNN quoting a joint statement by the two companies.

There were 10 severe cases, nine of which occurred in the placebo group, the companies said. 

The Data Monitoring Committee, an independent group that keeps an eye on results and side-effects, “has not reported any serious safety concerns related to the vaccine,” the joint statement read. 

“The only Grade 3 (severe) solicited adverse event greater than or equal to 2% in frequency after the first or second dose was fatigue at 3.7% following dose 2,” the companies said in the joint statement. 

Also read: COVID-19 vaccine trials encouraging. Here’s who will get it first

 The phase III trial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 began on July 27.

The companies said on Wednesday they will seek the emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “within days.”

They would also submit the data to other regulatory agencies around the world. They have also planned to publish the data in a peer-reviewed journal.