BioNTech SE - The African Mirror

Aug

2021

Moderna says its shot remains 93% effective

MICHAEL ERMAN MODERNA Inc has revealed that its COVID-19 shot was about 93% effective four to six months after the second dose, showing hardly any change from the 94% efficacy reported in its original clinical trial. That compares favourably to data released by rivals Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE last week in which they suggested their vaccine's efficacy waned around 6% every two months, declining to around 84% six months after the second shot. Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. "We are very pleased that our COVID-19 vaccine efficacy is stable at 93%…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

EXPLAINER-I just got a COVID-19 vaccine. Now what?

COVID-19

DEENA BEASLEY BRITAIN has become the first country in the world to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, initially making the shot available at 50 hospitals. The country's National Health Service is giving priority to vaccinating people over the age of 80, frontline healthcare workers and nursing home staff and residents. The following is what people getting the vaccine should expect. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE GETS THE VACCINE? The vaccine, developed with new messenger RNA technology using a manufactured fragment of the coronavirus' genetic code, is injected into the arm. The inoculation is given…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

Q&A: Where are we in the COVID-19 vaccine race?

COVID-19

LARGE global trials of several COVID-19 vaccine candidates involving tens of thousands of participants are well underway with some having gathered sufficient data to seek emergency use authorisation. The following is what we know about the race to deliver vaccines to help end the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 1.45 million lives worldwide: Who is furthest along? U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE released a full late-stage trial data analysis on Nov. 18 that showed their shot was 95% effective at stopping COVID-19, the highest efficacy rate so far. U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna released its…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

EXPLAINER – When and how will COVID-19 vaccines become available?

COVID-19

JULIE STEENHUYZEN and CARL O’DONNELL PFIZER Inc with partner BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc have released trial data showing their COVID-19 vaccines to be about 95% effective at preventing the illness, while AstraZeneca Plc this week said its vaccine could be up to 90% effective. If regulators approve any of the vaccines in coming weeks, the companies have said distribution could begin almost immediately with governments around the world to decide who gets them and in what order. The following is an outline of the process: WHEN WILL COMPANIES ROLL OUT A VACCINE? Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have already started…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

‘Great day for humanity’: Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine over 90% effective

NEWS

MICHAEL ERMAN and JULIE STEENHUYSEN PFIZER Inc's experimental COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective based on initial trial results, the drugmaker said, a major victory in the war against a virus that has killed over a million people and battered the world's economy. Experts welcomed the first successful interim data from a large-scale clinical test as a watershed moment that showed vaccines could help halt the pandemic, although mass roll-outs, which needs regulatory approval, will not happen this year. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE said they had found no serious safety concerns yet and expected to seek U.S.…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 breakthrough: New vaccine is more than 90% effective

COVID-19

PFIZER Inc has revealed its experimental vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on initial data from a large study, a major victory in the fight against the pandemic. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE are the first drugmakers to show successful data from a large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine. Following are reactions to the news. LUCIO ROVATI, CEO OF ITALY'S ROTTAPHARM BIOTECH, WHICH IS WORKING WITH TAKIS BIOTECH ON A COVID-19 VACCINE "This is important news. Nothing that was not expected. Anyway, great, great. The problem remains that the data is limited in duration,…