COVID Vaccine On The Way? Reflections on Pfizer’s Announcement

Today, the New York Times published a piece about a potential COVID vaccine currently being developed by the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, which will likely be available by the end of the year, with a potential efficacy rate of 90%. Good news, indeed.

For those who can’t access the article, or who don’t have time to read the entire piece, here are some key takeaways, with a few additional comments.

1. The vaccine is being co-developed with a German firm, BioNTech. In fact, BioNTech began working on a vaccine for COVID in late-January, quickly realized it needed major institutional help, and subsequently created a partnership with Pfizer in mid-March.
2. This is the first formal external/independent review of the findings. If the vaccine is 90% effective, that would put it on par with current measles vaccines. No serious health or safety concerns have been identified. Pfizer will ask the FDA for approval in late-November. By the end of the year, there could be anywhere from 15–20 million doses available, with each vaccine requiring two independent doses. No one, however, knows how long the vaccine’s protection might last.
3. Pfizer did not participate in President Trump’s ‘Operation Warp Speed’ because the company wanted to distance itself from presidential politics. Pfizer has declined federal funds for research and development of the vaccine (for those worried that OWS influenced the findings).
4. The data released is not conclusive and did not appear in a peer-reviewed journal. However, many doctors, scientists, and researchers were excited by the news.
5. Things we don’t know, but might in the coming weeks: whether or not the vaccine protects people who’ve already been infected; whether or not the vaccine still allows for minor COVID symptoms, etc.
6. Logistical challenges remain the primary concern. I recently spoke to Indian journalist and science researcher, Prabir Purkayastha, who warned of the intense logistical challenges ahead. Due to its mRNA composition, the Pfizer vaccine will need to be transported and stored at temperatures of -147 degrees Fahrenheit. This will require special vehicles, storage facilities, and a highly centralized and coordinated national plan. If Pfizer expects 15–20 million doses by the end of the year, and if each dose requires two shots, we can expect to vaccinate 7–10 million Americans by the beginning of 2021. With more than 340 million people living in the U.S., major logistical challenges obviously remain. We also face the problem of international cooperation. Will countries cooperate or will the world be flung into a state of hyper-competition, which could lead to geopolitical calamity? Major questions remain, but for now, some good news…

Vincent Emanuele is a writer, antiwar veteran, and podcaster. He is the co-founder of PARC | Politics Art Roots Culture Media and the PARC Community-Cultural Center located in Michigan City, Indiana. Vincent is a member of Veterans For Peace and OURMC | Organized & United Residents of Michigan City. He is also a member of Collective 20. He can be reached at vincent.emanuele333@gmail.com