Several days ago, we learned that cooperation between Germany pharmacy company, Biontech and USA company, Pfizer produced vaccine to contain coronavirus, Sars Cov 2.
The Pfizer and Biontech provide data of 90% “efficacy” rate of vaccine called BNT162b2 from third clinical trial.
Then, we got second surprise when Moderna announced 94.5% “efficacy” rate of its Covid 19 vaccine.
You might wonder what the meaning of efficacy rate and effectiveness is.
The simple meaning is that:
- the result of treatments (trials) in the ideal and control condition for “efficacy.”
- the result of treatments (trials) in the real world for effectiveness term.
Moreover, what are differences between Pfizer and Biontech – Pfizer vaccines?
Several advantages of Moderna vaccine (called as mRNA-1273) are:
- can be maintained in the refrigerator with temperature of F –4 (C –20) for 30 days.
- refrigerators are available in the most doctor offices and all drug stores, both in the cities and rural areas.
- easy to deliver
In contrast, Pfizer – Biontech could be maintained 5 days only with the same refrigerator temperatures.
In term of price:
- US$ 38 a dose for Moderna
- US$ 20 a doses for Pfizer – Biontech
However, 90% efficacy for Pfizer – Biontech and 94.5% for Moderna are great performance vaccines so far.
These two vaccines will be produced about 50 million doses at the end of this year (2020) and 1.3 billion doses by next year (2021).
It is expected that these vaccines to have great impact globally, and we will soon back to normal life before pandemic.