London: In a most encouraging development, preliminary analysis has shown that the first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from contracting COVID-19, BBC has reported.
Pfizer and BioNTech, developers of the vaccine, described it as a “great day for science and humanity.” They will apply for emergency approval of their vaccine so that it can be used by the end of the month.
The companies said that no safety concerns have been raised so far about the vaccine, after it was tested on 43,500 people across six countries.
Amid a second wave in the USA and several European countries, and a ‘third wave’ in Delhi, the world has been waiting for the development of an effective vaccine, which is considered to be the best way to defeat the deadly virus.
Of the dozen vaccine candidates in the final stage — phase 3 trial — of testing, the one by Pfizer and BioNTech is the first to show results.
It uses an experimental approach, by injecting part of the virus’ genetic code, to train the immune system.
