New York: Global drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech said on Wednesday their COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 95 percent effective, including in people over 65 years of age, a major announcement coming just two days after Moderna said its virus vaccine has an efficacy rate of 94.5 percent.
Pfizer and BioNTech said they have concluded phase 3 study of their mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT162b2, meeting all primary efficacy endpoints. Based on current projections, the companies expect to produce globally up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.
This week, leading biotechnology company Moderna said its COVID-19 vaccine had shown to be 94.5 percent effective. Earlier this month, Pfizer and Biontech had said their COVID-19 vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants.
Analysis of the data indicates a vaccine efficacy rate of 95 percent in participants without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (first primary objective) and also in participants with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (second primary objective), in each case measured from seven days after the second dose.
The company said the first primary objective analysis is based on 170 cases of COVID-19, of which 162 cases of coronavirus were observed in the placebo group while 8 cases in the BNT162b2 group.
Vaccine efficacy was consistent across age, gender, race, and ethnicity demographics. The observed efficacy in adults over 65 years of age was over 94 percent.
There were 10 severe cases of COVID-19 observed in the trial, with nine of the cases occurring in the placebo group and one in the BNT162b2 vaccinated group.
"The study results mark an important step in this historic eight-month journey to bring forward a vaccine capable of helping to end this devastating pandemic. We continue to move at the speed of science to compile all the data collected thus far and share with regulators around the world," said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO.
"With hundreds of thousands of people around the globe infected every day, we urgently need to get a safe and effective vaccine to the world," Bourla said.
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The Abu Dhabi Sahebaan Community, a prominent social group representing the Urdu-speaking Muslim community from the twin districts of DK and Udupi, hosted a grand Iftaar get-together at the India Social and Cultural Centre (ISC), Abu Dhabi, for community members and their families on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
After an initial round of networking, the event commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Master Anas Ahmed, followed by a religious talk by visiting Moulana Janab Sayeed Zainul Abideen Thangal.
The gathering was welcomed by Althaf M.S., who also spoke about the rich legacy of Sahebaan Abu Dhabi Iftaars. These events provide a platform for Sahebaan Community members and their families to not only partake in Iftar but also to connect and enjoy the camaraderie with fellow community members.
Prominent personalities from the Beary community, along with BWF members Mr. Abdulla Madumoole, Abdul Majeed, Mohammed Kallapu, and other Excom members, were present.
The event was well attended, with distinguished Sahebaan guests from other emirates and India as well, including Janab Nasir Syed, M I Jameel (Retd Superintendent of Police, Karnataka) and others.
Sahebaan community well-wishers, namely Janab Abu Mohammed, Adil Shamshuddin, Abdul Rahim Dawood, Rizwan Aziz, Akram Mohd, Irfan Abdul Rahim Sheikh, Yunus Sheik, K. Mohd Ansar, Adil Hussain, Amjad Khalife, Mohd Asif, Arshad Ahmed, Ajmal Mohd, CA Hanif Mohd, Rahiman Baig, Rafique Ahmed, Sajid Ansar, CA Samiulla Mohd, Ajmal Jamal, Mohsin Shaikh, Tabrez Vanti, Ansar Byndoor, and Althaf M S, supported the program.
Team Sahebaan, along with volunteers Akbar Ali, Imdadulla, Rihyaz, supported by an energetic young Sahebaan Volunteers team, ensured the success of the program.
The program was compered by Mohd Ajmal Jamal, with IT support provided by Faizan Khateeb and guest welcoming done by Mohd. Jabir.
Team Sahebaan Abu Dhabi thanked all the members of Sahebaan Abu Dhabi for attending the event and for their wholehearted support.