How effective are Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca vaccines?

New data from Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine trial shows an efficacy rate of 94.1% and that the shot can prevent symptomatic infection, according to a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

“These numbers are compelling,” said Dr. Lindsey Baden, an infectious disease specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital who was in charge of one of the Moderna test sites at BWH.

“And, importantly, the data suggest protection from severe illness, indicating that the vaccine could have an impact on preventing hospitalizations and deaths, at least in the first several months post-vaccination,” said Baden.

Results from the primary analysis of the study released Wednesday showed 11 participants in the vaccine group developed symptomatic COVID-19 compared to 185 participants who received the placebo.

Cases of severe COVID-19 occurred only in participants who received the placebo.

“Longer term data from the ongoing study may allow us to more carefully evaluate the vaccine’s efficacy among different groups,” said Baden, noting the study lasts for two years.

The high efficacy rate of Moderna’s vaccine nearly matches that of Pfizer’s vaccine which boasts an efficacy rate of 95%.

Both are two-dose mRNA vaccines, a new platform never before used in the United States that was developed at record speed.

The vaccines share similar side effect profiles with participants typically experiencing the most symptoms after the second dose that include injection site pain, fatigue, chills and headache.

Another up and coming vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University is an adenovirus platform, which is made from chimpanzee viral vector.

The shot has an estimated efficacy of 70% and was authorized for use in Britain on Wednesday. It does not require the same ultra-cold storage as the mRNA vaccines and is cheaper.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2Mb1SYr