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Covid 19 vaccine break through announced

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By Audrey L Ncube 

Today has been described as the “greatest day for science and humanity” after COVID-19 vaccine developers finally had a breakthrough in the first effective vaccine that was found to prevent more than 90% of people from getting COVID-19.

Tested on more than 43,500 people in six countries – in the US, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa and Turkey, the drug has been found better than the rest with no safety concerns raised.

The companies responsible for the breakthrough, Pfizer and BioNTech have beat a dozen of tests done across the world – including Oxford and The Russian drug, AstraZeneca Plc and Johnson & Johnson Inc – that is said to be on final stages of testing.

The company has said it awaits an emergency approval from WHO and other medical bodies to start distributing the drug – by end of this month.

Two doses of the drug – three weeks apart – are required for every individual.

But there’s only one logistical challenge that may affect its distribution – especially in Africa.

The company says its drug has to be kept in ultra-cold storage of below minus 80C during its transportation and distribution.

Speaking on the breakthrough, Dr Albert Bourla, the chairman of Pfizer, said:

“We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development programme at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.”

The drug is a product of the American government-sponsored Pfizer and the Germany company, BioNTech.

The ousted US Donald Trump had repeatedly assured the public that his administration would likely identify a successful COVID-19 vaccine before the presidential election.

The Pfizer and BioNTech Vaccine was however announced today – two days after his rival Joe Biden was declared the winner.

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