coronavirus – Moe Lane

Moderna [vaccine] approved by FDA.

Second one out, and already starting to be distributed:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the second COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the United States.
The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the coronavirus vaccine produced by Moderna for ages 18 years of age or older.

The Moderna vaccine can be safely refrigerated (the Pfizer vaccine needs a very cold freezer), which will be handy. It does have slightly worse side effects in some people than the Pfizer vaccine does, although not particularly severe ones. Everybody involved should be congratulated for their yeoman work. Well done!

FDA authorizes EUA for Pfizer vaccine.

Here we go.

Today, FDA issued the first emergency use authorization (EUA) for a vaccine for the prevention of #COVID19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 16 years of age and older. The emergency use authorization allows the vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. https://t.co/1Vu0xQqmCB pic.twitter.com/c8maeePP9O
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) December 12, 2020

I’ve had Christmas gifts I’ve liked less.

Pfizer announces their vaccine is 90% effective.

They were hoping for 60%, so this is extra-welcome news:

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Monday their coronavirus vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19 among those without evidence of prior infection, hailing the development as “a great day for science and humanity.”
“I think we can see light at the end of the tunnel,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla told CNBC’s Meg Tirell on “Squawk Box.” “I believe this is likely the most significant medical advance in the last 100 years, if you count the impact this will have in public health, global economy.”