WASHINGTON — By now you have heard pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced it appears to have a successful vaccine for COVID-19. The company’s studies claim the vaccine appears to be 90% effective.
The Verify team exists to bring the facts -- so here's a look at some fast ones on the Pfizer vaccine trials.
SOURCES:
- Dr. David Dowdy, an epidemiologist from Johns Hopkins University
- The pharmaceutical company Pfizer
Fast-tracking a vaccine
First, let’s talk about fast-tracking.
Pfizer’s vaccine, like the others in production, has been fast tracked, but Dr. Dowdy says that doesn’t mean they cut corners.
“It just means that they're, they're making sure that those steps get done as soon as possible,” Dowdy said. “So you can think of this being the same sort of process as if you get your passport application expedited.”
How soon can a vaccine be ready?
A statement on Pfizer’s website reports the company can have 50 million doses ready by this year. But that doesn’t mean people will be able to take it.
Dr Dowdy explained the vaccine still has to go through a review and regulatory process, then the process of getting to the public will begin.
“The vaccine needs to get mass-produced, distributed, distributed to the people who needed the most,” he said. “Then it can get out to those of us in the population and this is a process that could take many months.”
Yes, Pfizers vaccine will require two doses
Dr. Dowdy said multiple doses are common for vaccines.
“If the immune system sees that same vaccine, again, it develops a much stronger response the second time around,” he said.