Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial partially conducted in Austin reports 90% success rate
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. announced perhaps the most encouraging news since the coronavirus pandemic started: a potential vaccine trial has been 90% effective in preventing COVID-19.
"Today is a great day for science and humanity," said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer chair and CEO, in a statement. "We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most."
There are 90 trials being conducted nationally, including one at Austin Regional Clinic, according to the Statesman, which reports that 200 adults are taking part in the study.
According to Pfizer, the latest phase of trials started in late July and included a diverse mix of participants. Monday's news should help advance ARC's trial to reportedly include teenagers in ongoing tests.
Should the Pfizer vaccine trials continue to deliver successful results, the company projects it can produce up to 50 million doses globally by the end of the year and 1.3 billion vaccine doses in 2021. Pfizer would offer the vaccine for free "to all American citizens," once available Bourla told Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent. The stock market has already reacted overwhelmingly positive to the announcement.
Local health officials said Monday that they are working with state officials and a local coalition to plan for widespread distribution of a vaccine, once one is available.
Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden said the coalition is working to identify priority populations locally, which would receive earliest access to any vaccine.
But other challenges remain, including the need for ultra-cold storage and a second dose, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott said, as well as the peer review process, which is standard in drug development.
"There are still a lot of unknowns as far as logistically how things will come," APH Chief Epidemiologist Janet Pichette said.
President-elect Joe Biden issued a statement congratulating Pfizer for the potential breakthrough but set realistic expectations that "the end of the battle against COVID-19 is still months away" even if a vaccine is approved later this month.
Statement by President-elect Biden on Pfizer's vaccine progress: https://t.co/eOiLZnqO8N— Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Biden-Harris Presidential Transition)1604934322.0
Anyone interested in volunteering can request to participate in the trial on ARC's website.
Emma Freer contributed to this story.
- Flu season: Austin health officials are focused on vaccines - austonia ›
- Everything we know about COVID-19 in Austin right now - austonia ›
- Austin company seeks volunteers for COVID vaccine trial - austonia ›
- Austinites test incoming Moderna vaccine with 95% efficacy - austonia ›
- Texas picked for new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine - austonia ›
- UT professor played role in Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID vaccines - austonia ›
- Texas experts weigh in on Biden's COVID response - austonia ›
- COVID-19 scams surface as vaccine prepares for FDA approval - austonia ›
- Abbott confirms incoming COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year - austonia ›
- Austin area will receive 13,650 doses of Pfizer COVID vaccine - austonia ›
- Freestanding ERs receive COVID vaccine after hospital ERs - austonia ›
- Care facilities, firefighters and police receive vaccines - austonia ›
- Vaccines to group 1B begins simultaneously with 1A - austonia ›
- Austin ISD receives COVID-19 vaccine for eligible staff - austonia ›
- Texas received fewer COVID vaccines than other states per capita - austonia ›
- Austin's Benchmark Research plans vaccine trial for kids - austonia ›
Popular
An unknown buyer will soon be living the dream after purchasing Austin's most expensive home—a nearly nine-acre property complete with a luxurious glass-walled mansion and a private lagoon in West Austin.
- Is the "Texodus" over for storm-damaged Austin? - austonia ›
- California tech employees move to austin for business and way of ... ›
- What billionaires like Elon Musk look for in Austin real estate - austonia ›
- Joe Rogan's new home is a $14 million mansion on Lake Austin ... ›
UT graduate and former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho has "accepted the rose" and will host "The Bachelor" franchise's latest special.
- Acho says University of Texas should address racist past - austonia ›
- McConaughey talks to former Longhorn Emmanuel Acho - austonia ›
- The Oprah Conversation has Emmanuel Acho's 'uncomfortable ... ›
- Host of the Bachelor Chris Harrison is moving to Austin - austonia ›
More vaccines could be headed to Austin as FDA greenlights single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine
This story was updated Monday to include that the vaccine received official approval by the FDA this weekend.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine that is to be shipped out this month, increasing the number of vaccines available.
In a virtual meeting on Friday, the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee unanimously approved of the U.S.'s third available COVID-19 vaccine, which was officially approved on Saturday. Federal officials say 4 million doses will go out nationally this week, with an expected 20 million doses to be available by the end of March. The Texas Department of State Health Services has said it expects to receive about 200,000 doses, but has not released a timeline of when doses will be shipped and available.