Pfizer Vaccine Shows Promise

A first analysis of Pfizer's phase three trials shows it's vaccine is more than 90-percent effective at preventing infection from COVID-19. NBC's Sarah Dallof reports.

(NBC News) — As the United States surpasses the grim milestone of 10 million coronavirus cases, one vaccine candidate is showing promising results.

A first analysis of Pfizer’s phase three trials shows its vaccine is more than 90-percent effective at preventing infection from COVID-19.

The phase three trials involved nearly 44,000 participants.

If the data holds up to peer review, the effectiveness would be on par with childhood vaccines like the measles and chickenpox.

Pfizer has an agreement with the federal government to produce 100 million doses of its vaccine, although they won’t all be immediately available upon approval.

“Demand will be much higher than anything we can produce, we are also looking right now to see if there are other ways, thinking out of the box to increase even further,” says Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

Pfizer says it will apply for an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration soon after they have two months of data, which will likely not come until the third week of November.

The news also comes as President-elect Joe Biden introduced his COVID-19 transition team.

“I will spare no effort to turn this pandemic around,” Mr. Biden said.

They’ve put together a blueprint to ramp up PPE production, protect vulnerable populations, operate schools and businesses safely and distribute an eventual vaccine.

He’s also encouraging Americans to do their part by wearing masks.

“It doesn’t matter your party, your point of view, we can save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months,” President-elect Biden said.

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