Early data results have shown US company Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective.
The news comes a week after Pfizer/BioNTech announced results from their large-scale trials, in which they confirmed their vaccine was 90% effective.
Moderna said their vaccine was “generally well tolerated” and in the cases of any side effects the high majority were short-term and mild. 30,000 people took part in the phase 3 trial of the vaccine.
Stephen Bancel, Moderna CEO said:
This positive interim analysis from our Phase 3 study has given us the first clinical validation that our vaccine can prevent Covid-19 disease, including severe disease.
The Moderna vaccine is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine which is the same as the one produced by Pfizer. However, the key difference between the two being Moderna’s vaccine can remain stable at normal refrigerator temperatures of 2 degress Celsius to 8 degree Celsius for a period of 30 days. Whereas Pfizer’s vaccine requires it to be stored in deep-freezing conditions of -70 degrees Celsius. This was causing a logistical headache for many countries over the past week.
The European Union is close to finalising a deal with Moderna regarding the acquisition of its new vaccine. This would take Covid-19 vaccine supplies in the EU over the two billion mark.
The Department of Health has confirmed Ireland will be allocated 1.1% of the European Union’s portfolio of vaccines.
“Hand in white medical gloves holding tube with Covid-19 vaccine” by focusonmore.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0