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demmiblue

(36,751 posts)
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:06 AM Nov 2020

Moderna's coronavirus vaccine found to be nearly 95 percent effective in a preliminary analysis

Source: Washington Post

Biotechnology firm Moderna announced Monday that a preliminary analysis shows its experimental coronavirus vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective at preventing illness, including severe cases — a striking initial result that leaves the United States with the prospect that two coronavirus vaccines could be available on a limited basis by the end of the year.

The news comes a week after pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech lifted the stock market and people’s hopes with the news that their coronavirus vaccine was more than 90 percent effective.

“It’s extremely good news. If you look at the data, the numbers speak for themselves,” said Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who was one of three people briefed on the data by an independent committee Sunday morning. “I describe myself as a realist, but I’m fundamentally a cautious optimist. I felt we’d likely get something less than this. … I said certainly a 90-plus-percent effective vaccine is possible, but I wasn’t counting on it.”

Moderna’s vaccine, co-developed with Fauci’s institute, is being tested in 30,000 people. Half received two doses of the vaccine, and half received a placebo. To test how well the vaccine works, physicians closely monitored cases of covid-19 to see whether they predominantly occurred in people who received the placebo group.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/16/covid-moderna-vaccine/




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Moderna's coronavirus vaccine found to be nearly 95 percent effective in a preliminary analysis (Original Post) demmiblue Nov 2020 OP
Excellent underpants Nov 2020 #1
Still a 2 dose vax, but stable at refrigerator temperatures for a month, frozen for up to six months mpcamb Nov 2020 #29
Yes. Freezer level is big - I posted on it. Single dose would be huge. underpants Nov 2020 #32
I thought it said two doses were given in the trial? KewlKat Nov 2020 #48
Now the race/battle is underway. BumRushDaShow Nov 2020 #2
Exponential growth. LisaL Nov 2020 #3
Herd immunity . . . Iliyah Nov 2020 #4
I can...Fauci warned of this back in July and Trump and his cabal ignored all warnings.... Bengus81 Nov 2020 #5
The sad thing for you is BumRushDaShow Nov 2020 #7
We are now two out of two Steelrolled Nov 2020 #6
"95 percent effective at preventing illness, including severe cases" - Any idea what icwlmuscyia Nov 2020 #8
and which mutation of the COVID virus? We know a new strain is underway in Europe beachbumbob Nov 2020 #10
So far, the mutations don't JustGene Nov 2020 #13
I think there has been a lot of detail, but it comes out a bit at a time Steelrolled Nov 2020 #18
Nobody was exposed to covid on purpose. LisaL Nov 2020 #20
Zero serious cases in trial JustGene Nov 2020 #11
Compared to how many serious cases in the placebo group? Thanks. TheRickles Nov 2020 #12
Their corona virus stories are free - so take a look! icwlmuscyia Nov 2020 #14
So far, 90 severe cases were in the placebo group, vs. only 5 in the vaccine group TheRickles Nov 2020 #22
As I understand it, that's not correct. The King of Prussia Nov 2020 #41
Yes, you're right. Thanks for the correction, and the Guardian link. TheRickles Nov 2020 #43
Which means that The King of Prussia Nov 2020 #52
Which also means that of the 15,000 who got placebo vaccinations, TheRickles Nov 2020 #54
I don't think thats known JustGene Nov 2020 #15
"Also, did Moderna purposely expose subjects to the corona virus?" Steelrolled Nov 2020 #16
No need to purposely expose anyone, because covid is skyrocketing. LisaL Nov 2020 #17
Yes, an ironic silver lining to the recent surge. Steelrolled Nov 2020 #19
The way this is going, we might achieve herd immunity before the vaccine is approved. LisaL Nov 2020 #21
Yes, while we won't get herd immunity any time soon. Steelrolled Nov 2020 #23
Is this the same Moderna that received 472 million virus investment from the turd? not_the_one Nov 2020 #58
Superb Sherman A1 Nov 2020 #9
Trump will take credit momentarily FBaggins Nov 2020 #24
China has been distributing vaccines for awhile now. Kablooie Nov 2020 #25
Chinese consumer safety protocols Loki Liesmith Nov 2020 #26
I know that China is ahead of us in distributuion Steelrolled Nov 2020 #27
Russia has been vaccinating for months now claiming 92% effectiveness but reports from healthcare yaesu Nov 2020 #30
So do the deaths oldsoftie Nov 2020 #35
I haven't heard of deaths Steelrolled Nov 2020 #36
I think they mean deaths from COVID, not the vaccine. Ace Rothstein Nov 2020 #37
As you say. Deaths have been soaring. Hortensis Nov 2020 #38
There are two possibilities. Ace Rothstein Nov 2020 #39
Keep in mind that two US companies have announced results very similar to Steelrolled Nov 2020 #44
Haven't the two US companies made 10's of millions of their vaccines already? Ace Rothstein Nov 2020 #55
According to the 60 Mins story, those most promising ARE being made. oldsoftie Nov 2020 #56
Do we have any knowledge of how many in Russia have been vacinated? Steelrolled Nov 2020 #42
I don't think Russia is vaccinating its population yet. LisaL Nov 2020 #53
I heard that from a Chinese friend in Shanghai last week. Kablooie Nov 2020 #49
I'm happy at this news, but I still want independent analysis of the data. Lonestarblue Nov 2020 #28
Yeah, I will not touch it until the Biden administration gives it a thumbs up after scientific yaesu Nov 2020 #31
The drug company is "blind" to the trial results. Steelrolled Nov 2020 #33
Please post links to peer reviewed evidence of this. ForgoTheConsequence Nov 2020 #40
Not behind a pay wall h2ebits Nov 2020 #34
Confirmed Lasher Nov 2020 #46
You are correct. The Covid material is not behind a paywall. Thanks. :-) TheRickles Nov 2020 #51
I want to share another tidbit Lasher Nov 2020 #59
Excellent news! nt iluvtennis Nov 2020 #45
I would be first in line! forthemiddle Nov 2020 #47
Me too! Steelrolled Nov 2020 #50
There was never any doubt that vaccines were coming. Aussie105 Nov 2020 #57

mpcamb

(2,855 posts)
29. Still a 2 dose vax, but stable at refrigerator temperatures for a month, frozen for up to six months
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 10:35 AM
Nov 2020

per Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/16/covid-moderna-vaccine/


Also, no dilution required at the point of care, unlike the Pfizer vaccine.
Some big advantages.
Johnson and Johnson may soon have a single dose vaccine, too.

underpants

(182,279 posts)
32. Yes. Freezer level is big - I posted on it. Single dose would be huge.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 10:40 AM
Nov 2020

People lose track of things like that. I know I forgot my second shingles shot.

Regular freezer level is a really big deal.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214562663

BumRushDaShow

(127,312 posts)
2. Now the race/battle is underway.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:10 AM
Nov 2020

I can't believe the fact that the U.S. registered 1,000,000 positives in JUST ONE WEEK (this past week) where in the past it initially took months, then a month, then several weeks.

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
4. Herd immunity . . .
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:16 AM
Nov 2020

wherein millions will die, but alas, science will prevail, and thank goodness the USA has elected Biden/Harris who gives a damn.

Bengus81

(6,907 posts)
5. I can...Fauci warned of this back in July and Trump and his cabal ignored all warnings....
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:48 AM
Nov 2020

Living in Kansas and hunkered down like never before. Covid is raging through this State as Republicans did everything they could to strip Dem Gov Laura Kelly of power to stop or at least slow this shit. A big day in Kansas used to be 250 new cases, now we're hitting 5,000+. Set a new record of 6,051 in one day just a couple of days ago.

Now...the price is being paid big time and I would guess the majority down with this virus are Republicans who wanted their fucking mega churches open, bars open and life as normal back in May. They yelled and screamed about any kind of a mask requirement in business establishments.

These are the same Republican POS that will take a bed away from someone who tried their best to keep from being infected.

BumRushDaShow

(127,312 posts)
7. The sad thing for you is
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:53 AM
Nov 2020

that here in PA, we have been consistently hitting 5000+ cases a day for almost a week now and we have 4 times the population of Kansas.

And once again I do a -->

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
6. We are now two out of two
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:53 AM
Nov 2020

with results better than anyone dared to predict. This means the Oxford vaccine and others still coming have a good chance of being effective as well.

The Moderna trial all started with this mother of two, on March 16.



https://www.npr.org/2020/03/21/818759617/i-wanted-to-do-something-says-mother-of-2-who-is-first-to-test-coronavirus-vacci

Yee haw!

icwlmuscyia

(296 posts)
8. "95 percent effective at preventing illness, including severe cases" - Any idea what
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:53 AM
Nov 2020

"severe cases of prevention" means?

Also, did Moderna purposely expose subjects to the corona virus? I am so curious - article indicates no:

Moderna has committed to completing its trial before applying for emergency-use authorization — which means waiting until there are 151 cases of covid-19 in the study. A previous projection showed that the trial might end sometime early next year, but it is instead expected to reach its endpoint in seven to 10 days, Bancel said, because of surging coronavirus cases in the United States. The explosion of virus cases translates into an expedited ability to ascertain whether a vaccine works.

I am skeptical, but hopeful

 

beachbumbob

(9,263 posts)
10. and which mutation of the COVID virus? We know a new strain is underway in Europe
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 08:59 AM
Nov 2020

the need for details is staggering. Were all subjects exposed to COVID?

JustGene

(421 posts)
13. So far, the mutations don't
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:11 AM
Nov 2020

appear to affect the vaccines effectiveness. (No structural change)
Exposure is random (ethics)

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
18. I think there has been a lot of detail, but it comes out a bit at a time
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:22 AM
Nov 2020

Some drug company (not Moderna) said their vaccine was effective with the new mutation (which was not a big surprise, based on what is known about how the vaccine is mutating).

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
20. Nobody was exposed to covid on purpose.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:23 AM
Nov 2020

Because covid is surging, subjects are naturally infected in a community, speeding up the trial.

JustGene

(421 posts)
11. Zero serious cases in trial
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:01 AM
Nov 2020

Last edited Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:33 AM - Edit history (1)

They don't do "direct exposure" without a reliable treatment.

Edit: wrong trial, sorry.

TheRickles

(2,000 posts)
12. Compared to how many serious cases in the placebo group? Thanks.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:08 AM
Nov 2020

WaPo is behind a paywall, unfortunately.

icwlmuscyia

(296 posts)
14. Their corona virus stories are free - so take a look!
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:13 AM
Nov 2020

The paragraph I posted said they are nearing 151 (must be some statistically significant number)

TheRickles

(2,000 posts)
22. So far, 90 severe cases were in the placebo group, vs. only 5 in the vaccine group
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:26 AM
Nov 2020

(thanks for the tip about Covid access being free)

41. As I understand it, that's not correct.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 11:49 AM
Nov 2020

Of the total cases (severe & otherwise) 90 were in the placebo group, and 5 were in the vaccine group. Of those 95 cases, 11 were severe and of those 11 severe cases, all 11 were in the placebo group.

[link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/16/moderna-covid-vaccine-candidate-almost-95-effective-trials-show|

52. Which means that
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 02:06 PM
Nov 2020

of the 15,000 who were vaccinated, 0 became seriously ill. I'm not sure HOW good that is, but it's put a smile on my face.

TheRickles

(2,000 posts)
54. Which also means that of the 15,000 who got placebo vaccinations,
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 02:18 PM
Nov 2020

only 11 got seriously ill. That's a very low morbidity rate, around 0.07%. That seems like very good news, too.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
16. "Also, did Moderna purposely expose subjects to the corona virus?"
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:20 AM
Nov 2020

This has been widely discussed, but it was not done, not even considered.

I think it should have been seriously considered, and there were no shortage of volunteers. The medical community is very cautious, and I guess the pandemic would have had to be much worse before they would consider.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
17. No need to purposely expose anyone, because covid is skyrocketing.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:22 AM
Nov 2020

Which means many people in control group are quickly getting it, speeding up the trial.

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
21. The way this is going, we might achieve herd immunity before the vaccine is approved.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:24 AM
Nov 2020

Of course many would die if that is the case.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
23. Yes, while we won't get herd immunity any time soon.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:28 AM
Nov 2020

I think there might be areas where the large number of infections does start to slow down the spread. Herd immunity is not black-and-white.

 

not_the_one

(2,227 posts)
58. Is this the same Moderna that received 472 million virus investment from the turd?
Tue Nov 17, 2020, 12:11 AM
Nov 2020
Moderna Congratulates Dr. Moncef Slaoui on His Appointment to Oversee the White House’s Operation Warp Speed Initiative.

https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-congratulates-dr-moncef-slaoui-his-appointment-oversee

Strangely, the virus does not require extreme storage and is a few points more effective. What a coincidence.

Sorry, but I will wait for Pfizer, which had NOTHING to do with the turd.

I posted this in the other thread that got locked. It seems no one is making the connection to trump. I will trust no drug company that has anything to do with a vaccine, that has any connection with the turd.

FBaggins

(26,697 posts)
24. Trump will take credit momentarily
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:35 AM
Nov 2020

It's actually the recent surge in new cases that allowed the trials to see results so quickly... so it's his super-spreader events that made this day possible!

/sarcasm

Kablooie

(18,572 posts)
25. China has been distributing vaccines for awhile now.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:40 AM
Nov 2020

With a lot of side effects and deaths.

Hope these are safer.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
27. I know that China is ahead of us in distributuion
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 09:46 AM
Nov 2020

but I have seen nothing that suggests deaths or harmful side effects. Is that real news, or just gossip?

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
30. Russia has been vaccinating for months now claiming 92% effectiveness but reports from healthcare
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 10:35 AM
Nov 2020

workers seem to dispute the effectiveness claim.

Ace Rothstein

(3,109 posts)
37. I think they mean deaths from COVID, not the vaccine.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 11:32 AM
Nov 2020

If their vaccine was working then Russia wouldn't be seeing a continuing rise in cases and deaths.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
38. As you say. Deaths have been soaring.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 11:41 AM
Nov 2020

A graph in the Moscow Times shows a steep rise from a summer plateau that never dropped.

Ace Rothstein

(3,109 posts)
39. There are two possibilities.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 11:46 AM
Nov 2020

Either nobody in Russia is getting the vaccine or the effectiveness is much closer to 0% than 100%.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
44. Keep in mind that two US companies have announced results very similar to
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 12:39 PM
Nov 2020

Russia, but the US are a number of weeks away (at least) from the vaccine being deployed to the first person (outside the trial). I doubt Russia has any magical ability to instantly manufacture and distribute millions of doses of vaccine, any more than the US does.

Ace Rothstein

(3,109 posts)
55. Haven't the two US companies made 10's of millions of their vaccines already?
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 02:33 PM
Nov 2020

I think both are expected to have 100 million available in January.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
42. Do we have any knowledge of how many in Russia have been vacinated?
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 12:14 PM
Nov 2020

You need a significant deployment of vaccine before the infections and death rate will be affected. I have not seen any reporting on this, just idle speculation.

Lonestarblue

(9,880 posts)
28. I'm happy at this news, but I still want independent analysis of the data.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 10:23 AM
Nov 2020

These vaccines have been developed at super speed, and thus neither company has been able to judge possible long-term effects of their vaccines. Once Biden is in office and his team of scientists have reviewed the data, I’ll be satisfied. I’ll line up for whatever they recommend. I’m tired of putting my life on hold.

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
31. Yeah, I will not touch it until the Biden administration gives it a thumbs up after scientific
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 10:37 AM
Nov 2020

review.

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
33. The drug company is "blind" to the trial results.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 10:46 AM
Nov 2020

A team of independent scientists review the data and report the results.

There continues to be misinformation about how the vaccine development process works. I shouldn't be surprised.

ForgoTheConsequence

(4,846 posts)
40. Please post links to peer reviewed evidence of this.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 11:48 AM
Nov 2020

Facebook and Twitter posts do NOT count. Respectable medical and epidemiological journals only. Thank you.

h2ebits

(632 posts)
34. Not behind a pay wall
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 10:48 AM
Nov 2020

I have a subscription to the Washington Post but they are offering all coronavirus information for free according to their header. Please click the linked article and check it out. I'd appreciate confirmation from someone who doesn't have a subscription.

Lasher

(27,501 posts)
59. I want to share another tidbit
Tue Nov 17, 2020, 06:35 PM
Nov 2020

If you are using Chrome as a browser, right click on the link, then select 'open in incognito window'. You're welcome.

forthemiddle

(1,373 posts)
47. I would be first in line!
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 01:01 PM
Nov 2020

After front line workers, and at risk patients I will lining up!

I feel the speed of the vaccine in the best news of this miserable year!

Science Rocks. I can’t wait to travel again!

 

Steelrolled

(2,022 posts)
50. Me too!
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 01:39 PM
Nov 2020

A lot of people don't want to believe good news, maybe because there has been so much bad news this year. The great thing about the vaccine trial results is they come from a panel of independent investigators. And the good thing about the FDA processes is that they have been fine-tuned over many years to reduce conflict of interest.

Aussie105

(5,214 posts)
57. There was never any doubt that vaccines were coming.
Mon Nov 16, 2020, 05:05 PM
Nov 2020

The questions really were:
When?
How long before widespread vaccinations will have the effect of reducing infection and death numbers?

Give it a few years, and you will get a combined flu and COVID shot - updated of course, to cover the latest strains that have shown up.

Then we can all go back to believing the human race is invincible.

In the meantime, while we are waiting, be safe - facemasks, social distancing, avoiding crowds, washing hands.
You know, the basic stuff, that some people seem to have problems with.

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