All the talk of tests and success rates has moved on to the next phase for at least one covid-19 vaccine. For months we’ve been reading about different companies making vaccines and how effective they are. Now, one has arrived at the gates and has but one more hurdle to cross before it gets to work protecting Americans and the world.
Pfizer, which made news just days ago by revealing its vaccine appeared to be 95 percent effective at stopping covid-19, has applied for emergency Food and Drug Administration authorization.
“Pfizer said Friday it is asking U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of its covid-19 vaccine, starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic—but not until after a long, hard winter. The companies said that protection plus a good safety record means the vaccine should qualify for emergency use authorization, something the Food and Drug Administration can grant before the final testing is fully complete,” the Associated Press reports.
And Pfizer is just one candidate awaiting approval. Moderna also made news a few days ago with a vaccine that’s around 94 percent effective at preventing covid-19.
The feds are going to look at all the data to make sure these vaccines are safe before setting them loose. We don’t want a Wild West of untested vaccines. But if the FDA determines Pfizer has a safe and effective product, then America can finally roll out a solution to a virus that has ravaged the nation for months, killed more than 250,000 people, and brought our economy down from record highs.
We’re so close. As Dr. Anthony Fauci has said, help is on the way. We just have to make sure we’re still alive when it gets here.