A second covid-19 vaccine has shown to be almost 95 per cent effective.
US company Moderna plans to apply for approval for it's vaccine in the coming weeks.
Just a week after Pfizer and BioNTech said their vaccine was over 90% effective, Moderna has published an early analysis of it's trial.
30 thousand participants in the US were given two doses of either the vaccine or a placebo four weeks apart.
Of the first 95 people to develop covid symptoms, just 5 had been given the vaccine, which means it is 94.5 per cent effective.
Absolutely wonderful news from Moderna: 94% vaccine efficacy, zero severe coronavirus cases, no severe adverse events, and one-month stability under standard refrigeration.
We’re winning. Hang on, hang on, hang on and stay safe. We’re going to win.
— Derek Lowe (@Dereklowe) November 16, 2020
Ireland Infection Rate Increases
The news will add to the confidence that a vaccine can help end the pandemic.
It comes at a time when Ireland is experiencing a worrying development.
Statement from the National Public Health Emergency Team
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre @hpscireland has today been notified of 1 additional death related to #COVID19.
There has been a total of 1,979 #COVID19 related deaths in Ireland.
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) November 15, 2020
The 5 day moving average has began to persistently increase.
The average daily number of cases is now 413 compared to 380 just 5 days ago.