Vaccine Update: Who's leading in creating an effective coronavirus vaccine? | DW News

News last week of a promising coronavirus vaccine candidate from Pfizer and German firm BioNTech prompted ecstatic headlines. The vaccine was developed in record speed. According to a BioNTech, initial tests show it to be 90% effective at preventing COVID-19 infections. The company also said an external, independent Data Monitoring Committee had reported no "serious safety concerns" regarding the potential vaccine.

One week later, US pharma company Moderna announced its phase 3 vaccine trial with over 30,000 participants showed efficacy to be at 94.5%.

While BioNTech and Pfizer, as well as Moderna, are leading the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, other pharma companies — such as AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Sinovac and Johnson & Johnson — are expected to soon present candidates of their own.

According to the World Health Organization, 47 vaccines candidates are currently in clinical trials, of which 10 are in phase 3 efficacy trials. Russia has already registered two vaccines, one of which — Sputnik V — became available for public use in August. Experts, however, warn that this vaccine has been insufficiently tested.

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[carpenterfamily]

Optimism is justified, but please remain vigilant with all your safety precautions - do you very best to remain infection free until you can actually get the vaccine. I know this is obvious but it’s worth saying. 😷

[DanA-nluo]

Sorry but as an American I don't believe the price charged by drug companies has anything to do with the cost of manufacturing. Their prices are set by their greed.

[EnglishRu]

I wonder why Russia is always mentioned in negative contexts, but in positive ones it is not. It's the highest standard of independent journalism, guys.

[mountkailash]

We've had it in China for several months. Covids over in China for some time. All the best to fellow human beings in the US and Europe. Surely you'll get over it.

[SteveinSanFrancisco]

This is like the plot to a bad Tom Cruise movie... who can make the most money off the dying first 🙄

[akshay]

Covaxine is best now...which is not in DW list...
Poor analysis

[bayani]

Sputnik V sounds cool so I prefer this one

[xotoxpv]

What do you think, when will the Russians come out with the revised effectiveness of 97% for Sputnik V? :D

[Roseforres]

Sounds like someone is expecting to make some money from this pandemic

[alvitahmiid]

Germans are leading in the Biotech industry at the moment. Huge stocks would be bought by people in the stock markets for CureVac and BioNtech.
🇩🇪💉🇩🇪

[sjbock]

To the reporters/news readers: it's very confusing and misleading to say something will be ready "early next year" when we are already at the end of this year. Early next year is only a few months from now but sounds farther away. Speak in terms of months not "years" when the length of time is 1 year or less.

[TraderJam]

There seem to be a % completion. Big money is to be made.

[radio]

Let´s hope the production goes smoothly and this pandemic will be under control until next summer.

[FocusReborn]

95% over what duration of time??

It might be 95% in its initial phase, but what about 5-10 years from now?? Because it hasn't undergone years of testing, nobody can answer that question. In other words, we're gambling with our lives for no reason.

[ariashley]

What happened to Trump saying that it would be free? Just saying 🤷

[derekm]

They can't make this fast enough for me

[DanA-nluo]

If it is so hard to ship maybe they should do small scale distributed manufacturing. Oh that would make it harder to protect their trade secrets and maximize profits.

[natty]

Everyone wants to be safe so people want be vaccinated. With its 95% effectiveness why someone 95% will get its protection but someone 10% must miss it. 😳

[solapowsj]

Race, ok. But approval by CDC and FDA is first requirement. Vaccines may be taken only on prescription from a registered doctor.

[theswedenguy]

What do u mean we are going into a stricter lockdown in Sweden? We NEVER HAD ONE!