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Coronaviruses

COVID-19 Vaccines Show Promise, but Challenges Remain in Controlling the Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Vaccines against the novel coronavirus are now being distributed in the United States, with the FDA granting emergency authorization for the Pfizer vaccine, which has shown 95% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19. The Moderna vaccine, which stands at 94% effectiveness, is expected to receive similar approval soon. However, experts caution that even with vaccination, it will be months before people can safely remove their masks and resume normal social interactions. The challenge is that current studies only measure whether vaccinated individuals develop symptoms, not whether they can transmit the virus to others. Researchers are still trying to determine if vaccinated individuals can still carry the virus in their respiratory tract, potentially spreading it to others.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown 95% and 94% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19, respectively, in clinical trials.
  • The vaccines require two injections, spaced three weeks (Pfizer) to four weeks (Moderna) apart, to achieve maximum protection.
  • Even with vaccination, it is still possible for individuals to be asymptomatic carriers of the virus, potentially spreading it to others.
  • Current studies do not measure whether vaccinated individuals can transmit the virus without developing symptoms.
  • Experts estimate that around 70% of the population would need to gain immunity for the pandemic to end.
  • The general public is not expected to have access to vaccines until spring, with it potentially taking months for the pandemic to end.
  • By mid-2021, experts predict that we will know enough about how well the vaccines are blocking infections at a population level to determine when to scale back mitigation measures.
  • By December 2021, experts predict that we will be able to say goodbye to masks and social distancing, provided the public accepts and gets vaccinated in sufficient numbers.

Statistics:

  • The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective in preventing COVID-19, according to clinical trials.
  • The Moderna vaccine is 94% effective in preventing COVID-19, according to clinical trials.
  • The MMR vaccine used to prevent measles is about 97% effective, according to Eric Sachinwalla.
  • The Pfizer vaccine efficacy was 52% after the first dose, increasing to 95% after the second dose, according to a recent published study.
  • Experts estimate that around 70% of the population would need to gain immunity for the pandemic to end.
  • There is a rare chance that vaccinated individuals could still get infected, with the virus being 100% effective being unlikely.

Sources:

  • Eric Sachinwalla, MD, is the medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia.
  • Neal Goldstein, PhD, MBI, is an assistant research professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Drexel University.
  • The FDA granted emergency authorization for the Pfizer vaccine.
  • A recent published study showed the Pfizer vaccine efficacy was 52% after the first dose and didn't reach 95% until after the second dose.
  • The general public is not expected to have access to vaccines until spring, according to Neal Goldstein.

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