Coronavirus Vaccines: What’s the Latest? When Can We Expect Them?

If the first wave of the coronavirus could be compared to a boat’s wake, the second wave is like a tsunami. Barely a month into cold and flu season, coronavirus numbers around the globe are spiking at an alarming rate. The US has recorded at least 100,000 new infections daily for the past week, including an all-time high of 153,000 new cases in one day. Meanwhile, Europe is well into its second wave and is also shattering records from the springtime. Spain and Italy have both passed one million cases, while the UK just reached a grim milestone of 50,000 deaths.  As countries cycle in and out of lockdowns and restrictions, one thing remains unchanged: the need for effective coronavirus vaccines. What’s the latest news on all the different coronavirus vaccines in development around the world? How soon will they become available to those at high risk and the general public? Keep reading for the most current news on coronavirus vaccines.

Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Promising Results

In a statement released on November 9, Pfizer and BioNtech announced their vaccine has been 90% effective during the third and final phase of its trial. Of the more than 43,000 participants who received the vaccine, fewer than 100 have since contracted the virus. To put this into perspective, the FDA said they would approve a vaccine that proved to be at least 50% effective. A 90% effective rate (if it holds true) would be “extraordinary.” “Today is a great day for science and humanity,” said Pfizer CEO and Chairman Dr. Albert Bourla. “With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis.” The last phase of the trial will continue until there are 164 confirmed cases among participants. This gives researchers a more complete picture of how effective these coronavirus vaccines will be. It also gives insight into other important factors, such as providing protection to those who were already exposed to the virus. Meanwhile, Moderna will soon release information about its late-stage trial that included 30,000 participants. They’re expecting to see similar success rates to the Pfizer vaccine, although we’ll have to wait for the official results.

When Will the First Coronavirus Vaccines Become Available?

Here’s the million-dollar question: When will these vaccines become available to healthcare workers and the general public? It’s too soon to give an exact date, but experts predict the vaccines could arrive sooner rather than later. Pfizer and BioNTech say they expect to produce up to 50 million vaccine doses by the end of 2020, followed by as many as 1.3 billion doses in 2021. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said that Europe will secure 300 million doses of the vaccine as soon as it becomes available. The plan is to deploy it, free of charge, throughout the countries that make up the European Union.  Member states will give vaccination priority to:

• Healthcare professionals
• Essential workers
• Anyone over the age of 60
• Anyone considered “high risk” due to pre-existing conditions

This is great news for Europe, which has also been hit hard by COVID-19. But what about closer to home? The coronavirus vaccines being developed by Pfizer may be the first that are ready to be rolled out, but it won’t happen overnight. Any vaccine offered in the US must first be approved by the FDA. Pfizer says it plans to apply for emergency approval from the FDA in the third week of November. If it’s approved, it could be available to healthcare workers and older Americans by early 2021. Among the several manufacturers that the US has pledged over $10 billion in funding, Pfizer’s could be the first to arrive.  In total, the US has secured over 800 million doses from different manufacturers, which is more than enough to vaccinate every American. As we move through 2021, the vaccines should become more widely available to the general population. Of course, whether everyone plans to get the vaccine is another story altogether.

Other News About Coronavirus Vaccines

Pfizer is making the most headlines right now, but they’re not the only company making strides with a vaccine. Here are some other headlines about coronavirus vaccines you might have missed in recent weeks:

• In an interview with BBC, Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that we “will know whether a vaccine is safe and effective by the end of November or beginning of December.”
• On November 10, Eli Lilly gained FDA emergency clearance for an antibody drug to be used on high-risk patients. The US will spend $375 million for 300,000 vials.
• After being paused for safety concerns, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca have resumed trials for their coronavirus vaccines.
• An experimental vaccine that has not yet passed Phase 3 of clinical trials is already available on a first-come, first-serve basis in Beijing, China. Despite warnings and criticism from public health experts, anyone can show up and pay 2000RMB (about $300) for the shots.
• Days after a global study by the WHO confirmed that the drug Remdesivir doesn’t work, the FDA granted full approval anyway.

Considering it takes 10-15 years on average to develop a vaccine, the progress these manufacturers have already made is remarkable. However, that’s not to say the coronavirus vaccines will magically fix everything overnight.

Final Thoughts on COVID-19 Vaccines

Scientists, doctors, and politicians are optimistic about the development of coronavirus vaccines. Still, they also acknowledge that we have a long road ahead of us. In an official statement, President-elect Joe Biden said that we have “cause for hope,” he added that “the end of the battle against COVID-19 is still months away. America is still losing over 1,000 people a day from COVID-19, and that number is rising.” Stella Kyriakides, the EU commissioner for health, echoed similar sentiments when she said, “Even when we have a safe and effective vaccine, it will not be the panacea that will make COVID-19 disappear in a day.” The vaccine will no doubt turn the tide in our battle against the coronavirus. But it’s still up to each of us to do our part to protect ourselves and our loved ones until the pandemic is behind us for good. Do you need to stock up on your face masks, hand sanitizer, and other protective equipment? Click here to browse our full selection.