Pfizer’s announced Monday that its vaccine for Covid-19 was 90% effective in late-stage trials. That's the best news of a dismal 2020. If the interim results hold, this could lead to a mid-2021 pandemic exit — and perhaps spare us from the lockdown instincts of the coronavirus team that Joe Biden announced Monday.
The 90% rate is far above most expectations. The Food and Drug Administration set a 50% effectiveness rate for considering expedited approval, and Europe has said it may approve a vaccine that is less than 50% effective. Annual flu vaccines are only 30% to 60% effective, and that’s in a good year (WSJ).
Another story notes “Pfizer’s vaccine was developed using genetic sequencing on computers without using fetal cells. As a consequence, the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute listed the vaccine as “ethically uncontroversial” (National Review).
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Related story: Senator Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) on Monday issued a harsh rebuke of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s said that it is “bad news” that a coronavirus vaccine may come out while President Trump is still in office. “What on earth is Governor Cuomo talking about?” Sasse said in a statement. “This is great news and everyone — Republicans and Democrats and apolitical folks – should all be jointly thrilled about the possibility of an effective vaccine” (National Review).
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