Pfizer applied for emergency use authorization of its coronavirus vaccine with United States regulators Friday, days after the company said it finished its final round of human trials — with promising results.
Pfizer and its partner company, BioNTech, said the final data shows its vaccine is 95 per cent effective against the virus, with no serious safety concerns. But, the full results of its trial have not been released and must be peer-reviewed by independents scientists.
The companies said they have also “initiated rolling submissions” with medical regulators in Europe and the United Kingdom, and that they intend to “submit applications to other regulatory agencies worldwide in the coming days.”
One potential stumbling block for the Pfizer vaccine is its requirement of ultracold storage. The shots must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — far colder than standard cooling systems at health care facilities across much of the country.
