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COVID-19 Vaccines Entering Home Stretch

Steve Baragona

   The first shots of a vaccine against the coronavirus may be
   administered before year's end if all goes according to schedule.

   Biotech company [1]Moderna announced Monday that the U.S. Food and Drug
   Administration will likely consider whether to grant its vaccine
   emergency use authorization on or about December 17.

   Moderna followsdrugmakerpartners Pfizer andBioNTech, who have an [2]FDA
   meeting scheduled for December 10.

   Another meeting on Tuesday will provide recommendations on who should
   get access to the limited initial supply of vaccines once they are
   approved.

   'Impressive'

   The pace of development has been unprecedented for a new vaccine
   against a disease that was unknown a year ago.

   In nearly five decades working in immunization, Associate Director
   Walter Orenstein of the Emory University Vaccine Center said he has
   never seen anything like it.

   "It's just really impressive to have potential vaccine candidates
   available for widespread use in this short a period."

   The companies and the U.S. government put billions of dollars into
   developing the vaccines, which Orenstein said allowed them to move this
   fast without compromising safety.

   Distribution is expected to start immediately once the FDA gives each
   manufacturer the green light.

   Both Moderna and the Pfizer/BioNTechteam have released results from
   clinical trials showing that their vaccines are more than 90%
   effective.

References

   1. https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-primary-efficacy-analysis-phase-3-cove-study
   2. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-announces-advisory-committee-meeting-discuss-covid-19-vaccine

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