A trial with thousands of participants concluded that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer together with its partner BioNTech is
effective against a variant of the coronavirus that first emerged in South Africa
and is of particular concern about its danger, according to both. companies in a statement issued Thursday.
They also indicated that the follow-up of 12,000 people involved in their Phase 3 trial for six months from the administration of the second dose reflects that, after that time, they maintained a high degree of protection against COVID-19
without serious safety problems
.
[How can COVID-19 vaccines be safe if they developed so quickly?]
"This is an important step in further confirming the strong efficacy and good safety data recorded so far," said Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech.
"These data also provide the first clinical results that a vaccine can effectively protect against currently circulating variants, a critical factor in achieving herd immunity and ending this pandemic for the world's population," he added.
This vaccine has been administered in the United States since last December, after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized its emergency use.
Pfizer ensures 100% efficacy of its vaccine against COVID-19 for children between 12 and 15 years old
March 31, 202100: 28
The study included about 44,000 people, some of whom received the vaccine and others a placebo.
927 symptomatic cases of COVID-19 were recorded: of these, only 77 were in people who had received the vaccine, representing a degree of effectiveness of
91.3%
, according to a press release not independently reviewed.
Only one person of the 21 who suffered severe cases had received the vaccine, indicating an efficacy of
95.3%
, the statement added.
[Is it true that we will need a COVID-19 vaccination passport to travel?]
Part of the trial was carried out in South Africa, where variant B.1.351 was first detected, causing concern among scientists.
This part was carried out with 800 people.
The cases of contagion with this strain observed in the study were six, but none of them were people who had received the vaccine: this indicates that
the effectiveness has been 100%
, according to the study.
This fact is celebrated by the two manufacturers, because in February they said that a laboratory test suggested that their vaccine produced lower levels of antibodies against this strain.
Although antibody levels were lower, Pfizer and BioNTech explained Thursday, that "does not appear to affect the high efficacy observed against this variant."
With information from NBC News.