PHOTO: ODT FILESA potential Covid-19 vaccine breakthrough is exciting but must not derail vaccine research in New Zealand and elsewhere, an Otago scientist says. In October, the Government agreed to buy 1.5million vaccine doses (enough for 750,000 people) from Pfizer should it pass regulatory approval. Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases director Associate Prof James Ussher, who is participating in international vaccine development programmes, said there was still a long way to go before a proven Covid-19 vaccine was available. There has not been an RNA vaccine which has received regulatory approval before, this is likely to be the first in that category, but it is very exciting technology." The United States had already said it would approve any vaccine with a 50% effectiveness rate, and the Pfizer vaccine seemed likely to exceed that.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 10, 2020 15:33 UTC