The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine appears to offer 100% protection against the South African variant and most likely protects against the Brazilian variant, two new studies suggest.
Research published by Pfizer/BioNTech on Thursday offers the first in-human evidence of how the vaccine protects against the South African variant that has been worrying scientists.
The pharmaceutical giant said its findings show the vaccine is 100% effective in preventing Covid-19 cases in South Africa – where the South African variant is now common.
(PA Graphics)
Among 800 people in South Africa, nine cases of the South African variant of Covid were observed – all in the group not given the vaccine.
The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine appears to offer 100% protection against the South African variant and most likely protects against the Brazilian variant, two new studies suggest.
Research published by Pfizer/BioNTech on Thursday offers the first in-human evidence of how the vaccine protects against the South African variant that has been worrying scientists.
The pharmaceutical giant said its findings show the vaccine is 100% effective in preventing Covid-19 cases in South Africa – where the South African variant is now common.
(PA Graphics)
Among 800 people in South Africa, nine cases of the South African variant of Covid were observed – all in the group not given the vaccine.
Last modified on Thu 1 Apr 2021 12.54 EDT
The coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech protects against symptomatic Covid for up to six months, an updated analysis of clinical trial data has found.
In a statement released on Thursday, the companies reported efficacy of 91.3% against any symptoms of the disease in participants assessed up to six months after their second shot. The level of protection is only marginally lower than the 95% achieved soon after vaccination.
The findings are the first to demonstrate that the vaccine remains effective for many months, an outcome that doctors and scientists had desperately hoped for because it suggests that people being vaccinated now should be protected at least until the autumn when boosters may be ready.