BREAKING—Moderna just announced its experimental coronavirus vaccine is nearly 95% effective at preventing illness, including severe cases, in preliminary analysis. And of 11 observed severe cases, all were in the placebo group. Positive news. #COVID19 https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/16/covid-moderna-vaccine/

2) Moderna’s vaccine is being co-developed with Fauci’s NIAID institute, and being tested in 30,000 people. Of the 95 cases of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, 90 were in the group that received the placebo.

3) “ There were 11 severe cases reported — all in people who received the placebo. With cases of covid-19 confined almost exclusively to trial participants receiving a placebo, that sends a strong signal that the vaccine is effective at thwarting the virus.
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4) The fact that only 5 cases occurred in immunized (vs 90 in placebo) is huge. And that 0 severe among immunized so far, compared to all 11 in placebo, bodes well. But it’s a 30,000 person trial. It needs much longer followup.

5) BUT... before we get too excited... read this thread on two other new studies on #SARSCoV2 mutations: https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1328311963584258054

6) notably in the second study... researchers found a new mutation that could hinder neutralizing antibodies, as well as inhibit the monoclonal antibodies drugs (ie possible affect down the road Regeneron’s REGN-COV2 and Eli Lily’s bamlanivimab drugs). https://twitter.com/drericding/status/1328318205258047490