Pfizer and Moderna’s “95% effective” vaccines—let’s be cautious and first see the full data Only full transparency and rigorous scrutiny of the data will allow for informed decision making.
In the United States, all eyes are on Pfizer and Moderna.
The topline efficacy results from their experimental covid-19 vaccine trials are astounding at first glance.
Pfizer says it recorded 170 covid-19 cases (in 44,000 volunteers), with a remarkable split: 162 in the placebo group versus 8 in the vaccine group.
Meanwhile Moderna says 95 of 30,000 volunteers in its ongoing trial got covid-19: 90 on placebo versus 5 receiving the vaccine, leading both companies to claim around 95% efficacy.There may be much more complexity to the “95% effective” announcement than meets the eye—or perhaps not. Only full transparency and rigorous scrutiny of the data will allow for informed decision making. The data must be made public.
