The Pfizer Vaccine: What and Why
BY JULIA LIU ‘23
2020 was a long and, to be honest, pretty awful year for just about everyone, and COVID-19 has been the main cause. However, after months of suffering with little progress on any cures or vaccines, pharmaceutical bigshot Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced that their mRNA-based vaccine candidate was 95% effective, prompting celebration across the globe. Still, many have raised concerns about the vaccine and its possible long-term side effects, efficacy, and permanence. A large population remains reluctant to take the vaccine immediately, preferring to wait. In weighing the risks and rewards, however, the benefits of trusting the vaccine and possibly ending this pandemic far outweigh any issues the vaccine could cause in the future.
The coronavirus’ effects have been severe, necessitating real preventive measures. Just this December, the virus reached new heights at over two hundred thousand new cases and over two thousand deaths a day. Most people have been doing their best by wearing masks and staying indoors, but these measures can only do so much. The vaccine is the necessary next step.
Pfizer is widely recognized and trusted as one of the most prominent pharmaceutical companies in the world, ranking 64th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest corporations in the US by revenue this year. On March 17th, Pfizer announced that they would be partnering with BioNTech, who had been developing a vaccine since January. They tested the vaccine in three phases and reaped positive results early in the process with no serious side effects. In early July, they were granted a fast track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration, to expedite the development of the vaccine. About two months later, they announced the vaccine’s 90% effectiveness rate and began working towards an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA. Pfizer and BioNTech concluded Phase 3 of the trial with a 95% effectiveness rate, consistent across all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. The safety milestone for an EUA was also reached, and the data showed the only side effects with a frequency of 2% or higher were fatigue and headaches. On the 20th of November, Pfizer and BioNTech submitted an EUA request to the FDA and prepared doses for distribution ready within hours of authorization.
Finally, on December 2nd, Pfizer and BioNTech received the first authorization in the world for their vaccine. Today, countries across the globe are getting ready to distribute the vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech have meticulously planned and tested every aspect of the vaccine, but for the public, there’s not much else to do except wait and see how it affects the pandemic, and thanks to them, countries around the world can begin to move on.
However, this long awaited cure still faces opposition, as there’s not much for the public to do except wait and see the vaccine’s effects. According to ABC News, 15% of Americans outright refused to take the vaccine, and though 84% said that they trust it, 44% of this group preferred to wait. Many are still hesitant or unwilling to take it simply because the vaccine is so new. Though it has been tested in the lab and on volunteers, its long-term consequences remain unclear. Some skeptics anticipate that undiscovered side effects could potentially be fatal to younger people who are less vulnerable to the coronavirus. However, the facts are clear: the coronavirus is highly contagious, so more people will contract the virus and continue to suffer as the majority of the population waits to take the vaccine. While prudence is beneficial as a general rule, stopping the virus must take precedence in this situation.
Overall, the Pfizer vaccine has been thoroughly tested and has been able to successfully stop the virus. However, many unanswered questions persist. How long will the vaccine work? What if COVID-19 mutates? Are there any long term side effects to the vaccine? These questions can only be answered with time. Fortunately, millions of doses of this highly effective vaccine have been prepared for distribution. After all the chaos and mayhem that has occurred in 2020, hopefully we will be able to look forward to the nearing end of the pandemic.
The coronavirus’ effects have been severe, necessitating real preventive measures. Just this December, the virus reached new heights at over two hundred thousand new cases and over two thousand deaths a day. Most people have been doing their best by wearing masks and staying indoors, but these measures can only do so much. The vaccine is the necessary next step.
Pfizer is widely recognized and trusted as one of the most prominent pharmaceutical companies in the world, ranking 64th on the Fortune 500 list of the largest corporations in the US by revenue this year. On March 17th, Pfizer announced that they would be partnering with BioNTech, who had been developing a vaccine since January. They tested the vaccine in three phases and reaped positive results early in the process with no serious side effects. In early July, they were granted a fast track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration, to expedite the development of the vaccine. About two months later, they announced the vaccine’s 90% effectiveness rate and began working towards an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA. Pfizer and BioNTech concluded Phase 3 of the trial with a 95% effectiveness rate, consistent across all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. The safety milestone for an EUA was also reached, and the data showed the only side effects with a frequency of 2% or higher were fatigue and headaches. On the 20th of November, Pfizer and BioNTech submitted an EUA request to the FDA and prepared doses for distribution ready within hours of authorization.
Finally, on December 2nd, Pfizer and BioNTech received the first authorization in the world for their vaccine. Today, countries across the globe are getting ready to distribute the vaccine. Pfizer and BioNTech have meticulously planned and tested every aspect of the vaccine, but for the public, there’s not much else to do except wait and see how it affects the pandemic, and thanks to them, countries around the world can begin to move on.
However, this long awaited cure still faces opposition, as there’s not much for the public to do except wait and see the vaccine’s effects. According to ABC News, 15% of Americans outright refused to take the vaccine, and though 84% said that they trust it, 44% of this group preferred to wait. Many are still hesitant or unwilling to take it simply because the vaccine is so new. Though it has been tested in the lab and on volunteers, its long-term consequences remain unclear. Some skeptics anticipate that undiscovered side effects could potentially be fatal to younger people who are less vulnerable to the coronavirus. However, the facts are clear: the coronavirus is highly contagious, so more people will contract the virus and continue to suffer as the majority of the population waits to take the vaccine. While prudence is beneficial as a general rule, stopping the virus must take precedence in this situation.
Overall, the Pfizer vaccine has been thoroughly tested and has been able to successfully stop the virus. However, many unanswered questions persist. How long will the vaccine work? What if COVID-19 mutates? Are there any long term side effects to the vaccine? These questions can only be answered with time. Fortunately, millions of doses of this highly effective vaccine have been prepared for distribution. After all the chaos and mayhem that has occurred in 2020, hopefully we will be able to look forward to the nearing end of the pandemic.