Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Friday that they were submitting an emergency use authorization request to the FDA for its coronavirus vaccine. If it’s approved, which the companies believe will be by mid-December, when will it be ready to ship for distribution? According to Friday’s press release, the answer is “within […]

In July, Pfizer and BioNTech initiated a late-stage clinical trial on a coronavirus vaccine. Half of the people got the vaccine, while the other half got a placebo of salt water. The companies then waited for people to get sick to determine if the vaccine offered any protection. So far, […]

“We’re in a position potentially to be able to offer some hope,” said Bill Gruber, Pfizer’s senior vice president of clinical development. “We’re very encouraged.” Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top-infectious disease expert, said the results suggesting 90 percent effectiveness are “just extraordinary,” adding: “Not very many people expected it […]

Science is making incredible progress toward a COVID-19 vaccine, but as approval nears – potentially as early as December – worry has shifted to the complexity of distribution. © Javier Zarracina Vaccine Pannel promo Overall, hopefulness was the theme of USA TODAY’s vaccine panel this month. After five months, the panel’s countdown clock to a widely available […]