My thoughts re: today's news of the Pfizer/Biontech (thread):

->43000 enrolled, but prelim data based on 94 instances of COVID infection, 90% of whom were in placebo group
-this days after the 2nd dose (first dose in July)
-trial will end when 164 COVID cases are confirmed (1/5)

-many people focused on 10% "failure" but 90% effectiveness is good especially when compared with seasonal flu vaccine
-sounds like effectiveness does not vary between ethnic and other subgroups, as 42% with "diverse backgrounds"
-no data released on age-based effectiveness (2/5)

-no serious AE (adverse events), that means no deaths or hospitalizations; probably some temporary pain and fever, though, in some cases
-yes, Canada has access to this vaccine
-Pfizer will seek EUA (emergency use authorization) by end of year (3/5)

-manufacture and distribution remain a huge issue, especially since this formulation needs to be shipped and stored refrigerated, and needs at least one booster shot
-always skeptical about this kind of preliminary data released for stock boosting purposes (4/5)

-this means that we *will* have one or more vaccines rolling out sometime next year, to a limited extent
-conclusion: joy and optimism, but tempered as we wait for final data (5/5)