Health & Wellness
On Monday, US drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech announced their "interim analysis" of a 43,538-person study of their two-dose vaccine regimen having proved 90 percent effective in preventing Covid-19.
Just 94 cases of the disease were observed in the large-scale trial, and early indications are that the fight against the coronavirus may be shifting in humanity's favor at last. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine had already boasted similar rates of effectiveness.
However, with all the market surges, breathless news coverage, and political messaging about the vaccine, a number of serious caveats, concerns, questions, and a distinct lack of detail remain.
We don't yet know if the Pfizer vaccine entirely prevents infection, or whether asymptomatic carriers might still be a cause for concern in the years ahead. The study was also rather limited in scope, testing only whether there were fewer cases of symptomatic Covid-19 among vaccine recipients than those given the placebo.
In other words, without this information, we have no way of knowing whether this vaccine would actually stop the pandemic or not, or merely change its complexion.
The study also did not distinguish between the severity of Covid-19 cases among participants, nor did it provide demographic information on those who fell ill, so we still do not know whether vaccine recipients can fall critically ill or just develop a milder form of the disease.
There was no information given on the frequency or severity of side-effects, nor were key details shared about the vaccine's safety profile.
Furthermore, there was no discrimination of data among different subgroups, so it remains unclear whether at-risk groups in society will necessarily benefit from the vaccine or whether targeted lockdowns and protections may still be required to protect the elderly or immunocompromised.
Pfizer's Monday press release did not contain any data on how many participants got sick from the vaccine versus those who received the placebo. This data is expected to be released "in the coming weeks," according to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, as these questions, and more, will need to be comprehensively answered in order to overcome widespread vaccine hesitancy among the global population.
Indeed, taking the US as an example, according to one survey, some 62 percent of Americans worry that the Food and Drug Administration will fast-track vaccine approvals, and therefore just 21 percent of respondents polled say they "definitely plan to get vaccinated" and 49 percent probably or definitely will not.
Concerns are rife that there will be insufficient regard for both safety and effectiveness, given what is at stake politically and economically when it comes to a potential Covid-19-free future.
Some, such as US biotech executive and infectious-diseases expert William Haseltine, claim that such proclamations by vaccine developers "are an inadequate assurance" and are "as full of holes as Swiss cheese." They are calling for more open access to data and independent review to improve public trust in Covid-19 vaccine candidates, including the Pfizer-BioNTech holy grail.
Comment: China claims its Sinovac vaccine, CoronaVac, is not related to adverse incident of trial participant in Brazil:
Serious incidents that prompt the suspension of trials include the death of a volunteer, potentially fatal side effects, life changing disability and hospitalization, among other significant developments.See also:
The interruption of the study means that no new volunteer can be vaccinated until the regulator is satisfied that the vaccine was not responsible for the adverse effect experienced by the participant.
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Reader Comments
Pfizer has already started manufacturing 100,000k+ doses before their vaccine has even been approved. Warp Speed guidance shows that, as vaccines near expected approval, an effort to work with "media partners" to address "vaccine hesitancy", expect a lot more tweets like this from the MSM
But, but, but its 90% effective!
These are Pfizer's "self-reported" results, Pfizer has a horrible safety track record. The head of the FDA's CDER is former Pfizer VP for Product Safety that covered up dangerous side effects of Pfizer's Zoloft and Pfizer tried to block her from testifying under oath about it...
A question: Do you think there are more US SOTTites or UK SOTTites or heck, Continental SOTTites? (Definitions: SOTTite is anyone who has ever commented, written, or registered here. SOTTypes are folks who would read SOTT if they were aware of it.)
My guess on the size of the respective groups*:
1) UK;
2) USA;
3) Europe.
*Of course, there are folks in lesser numbers from all over.
What do you think?
RC
We know all we need to know about this vaccine. Since the premise of a truly dangerous disease is false there is no need.