The Latest: The vaccine race is heating up
Dear Reader,
At least two companies are reporting very good results from their late-stage trials. This morning Pfizer and BioNTech announced that they will be submitting their Covid-19 vaccine data to the FDA and that their full results show 95% efficacy. This comes after Moderna announced high efficacy results for its vaccine on Monday. You can read more details here.
READ: A Quick Guide to the Latest Vaccine News
The Covid-19 news cycle is a bit whiplash-inducing right now. The vaccine news is very hopeful (I am stoked by what I see so far) and at the same time the U.S. is in a particularly bleak point in the pandemic with rising cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. With vaccines likely on the horizon, the human loss feels unfair and preventable. Now is the time to really lean on what you know works to keep yourself and others protected from infection.
Here’s what’s new:
- New Pfizer vaccine results: Pfizer and BioNTech have finished their final clinical trial for the Covid-19 vaccine and say it is 95% effective and 94% effective in people over 65 who are at a higher risk for severe Covid-19. Read more.
- FDA authorizes first at-home Covid-19 test: The FDA has given a green light to The Lucira, which is a single use test that is intended to detect SARS-CoV-2 with a self-collected nasal swab sample in people age 14 and older who are suspected of Covid-19.
- Moderna says its vaccine is 94.5% effective: The results were analyzed by an independent data safety monitoring board, appointed by the National Institutes of Health. Read more.
Follow our Medium Coronavirus Blog for regular updates, and read some of the essential stories we’ve curated below.
Be well,
Alexandra Sifferlin
Editor, Medium Coronavirus Blog
Was this email forwarded to you by a friend? Sign up to receive regular updates from our Coronavirus Team in your inbox.
New on the Blog
A Quick Guide to the Latest Vaccine News
What’s the Deal With Covid-19 Nasal Sprays?
U.S. Pandemic Deaths Likely to Double Sans Urgent Action
Inside Biden’s New Coronavirus Advisory Board
Covid-19 Moms at Higher Risk for Preterm Labor, Study Suggests
Entire Bay Area Could Lose Indoor Dining After Sharp Covid-19 Uptick
Helpful explainers
The U.S. Is in a Pandemic Freefall. Why Isn’t There a Federal Lockdown?
Laying Out The Challenges Facing Covid-19 Vaccines
The Unsung Vaccine Ingredient That Could Help Protect More People Against Covid-19
A few more smart reads
10 Tips for Loving Someone in an Overrun ICU in the time of Covid
Empathy Could Stop This Pandemic
Masks, Protection, and Our National Character
Immunity to the Coronavirus May Last Years, New Data Hint (New York Times)
