Pfizer’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine appears to be working. The vaccine was found to be more than 90% effective, according to clinical results released by the company this morning (9th November 2020).

Each participant in the trial was given two injections spaced 21 days apart. The analysis compared the number of cases of COVID-19 among the volunteers getting the vaccine, with an approximately equal-sized group of volunteers who got an injection of a liquid that didn’t contain the vaccine.

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said results from 94 evaluable cases of COVID-19 among study participants indicated the more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19.

The data is yet to be publicly released or peer-reviewed, and Pfizer said the initial protection rate might change by the time the study is finished. The longevity of the immune response triggered by the mRNA-based vaccine also remains unknown.

However, the trial is the most promising indication to date that a vaccine will be effective in stopping disease among infected individuals, handing humanity a crucial tool in tackling the pandemic.

Pfizer aims to manufacture a total of 1.3 billion doses throughout 2021 and the UK has ordered 40 million doses, 10 million of which are due to be delivered by the end of the year.

In documents shared last week the head of the UK vaccine task force Katie Bingham revealed that the plan is to offer a vaccine to all adults over 50 by Easter next year.

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