According to Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech statements, their vaccine is 91% effective in preventing the coronavirus, including its South African strain. Such conclusions were made after receiving updated data from clinical trials in which participants received their doses in the last six months.

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Inc. and BioNTech has proved to be 100% effective among the participants of the trials in South Africa. Currently, there is a new strain of coronavirus (code B1351).

"The high vaccine efficacy observed through up to six months following a second dose and against the variant prevalent in South Africa provides further confidence in our vaccine’s overall effectiveness. These data confirm the favorable efficacy and safety profile of our vaccine and position us to submit a Biologics License Application to the US FDA," Albert Bourla, the Chief Executive of Pfizer, stressed.

The Pfizer vaccine was 100% effective in preventing severe cases of the virus as defined by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 95.3% effective according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

Data from clinical testing from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech are the first results of companies that demonstrate the high effectiveness of the drug. The COVID-19 vaccine developed by pharmaceutical companies effectively protects against coronavirus strains. The effective vaccine contributes to the development of herd immunity and to the end of the pandemic across the globe, Ugur Shahin, the head of BioNTech, stressed.

Nevertheless, experts are concerned about new variants of COVID-19, spreading in South Africa and Brazil. Virologists admit that the new strains may be resistant to existing vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.