GVN STATEMENT ON RECENT COVID-19 VACCINE DATA SUCCESS
Baltimore, Maryland, USA, November 17, 2020: The Global Virus Network (GVN), , which comprises global preeminent human and animal virologists from 57 Centers of Excellence and 11 Affiliates in 33 countries, said today that the 94.5% efficacy rate of the Moderna vaccine, according to early data announced yesterday, is a significant step towards developing an effective vaccine to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The GVN added that the announcement from Moderna combined with the recent vaccine data from Pfizer and BioNTech, which demonstrated 90% efficacy, represent major breakthroughs in the global effort to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19. The GVN, which has brought together the world’s foremost virologists to collaboratively evaluate the immune response against SARS-CoV-2, congratulates Moderna, Pfizer and BioNtech for their pioneering work and for achieving this milestone.
The two vaccines are mRNA based vaccine and require two-doses of vaccinations. Upon the FDA’s approval for emergency use authorization, Moderna and Pfizer project to produce about 20 million and 50 million doses, respectively, by the end of the year. Widespread vaccinations would be beneficial in mitigating the ongoing pandemic. As emphasized by the companies, the GVN suggests that an important next step is to evaluate the duration of protection, safety, and protective efficacy of vaccines in preventing viral transmission. GVN scientists will continue to contribute to these important milestones to curb, and ultimately control, the COVID-19 pandemic.
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About the Global Virus Network (GVN)
The Global Virus Network (GVN) is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense and first research response to emerging, exiting and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health, working in close coordination with established national and international institutions. It is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 57 Centers of Excellence and 11 Affiliates in 33 countries worldwide, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter @GlobalVirusNews
GVN MEDIA CONTACTS:
Nora Samaranayake
Phone: 410-706-1966; Email: [email protected]