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19 November 2020
American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc says final results from the late-stage trial of its COVID-19 vaccine show it is 95 per cent effective and has the required two-months of safety data to apply for emergency US authorisation within days, InDaily reports.
The drug maker said efficacy of the vaccine was consistent across age and ethnicity demographics, and there were no major side effects. Such results suggest an immunisation jab could be employed worldwide.
Efficacy in adults over 65 years, who are at particular risk from the virus, was over 94 per cent.
Moderna Inc on Monday released preliminary data for its vaccine, showing 94.5% effectiveness.
The better-than-expected data from the two vaccines has raised hopes for an end to the pandemic that has killed more than 1.3 million people globally and thrust South Australia into a state of severe lockdown.
However, while some groups such as healthcare workers will be prioritised in the United States for vaccinations this year, it will be months before large-scale rollouts begin, InDaily reports.