Solving COVID: July 15, 2020

'Good news' from Moderna's vaccine trial, Pfizer CEO sets sights on October for FDA approval, and more

A coronavirus vaccine.
(Image credit: Illustrated | AP Images, iStock)

1. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows immune-boosting results

The results from the first phase of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine trial are out, and the promising findings are in line with some early data released in May. The study, published Tuesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, found the experimental mRNA vaccine — which requires two doses, one month apart — induced coronavirus immune responses in all 45 participants, as scientists had hoped. There were some mild side effects, including fatigue, chills, and fevers, but The Associated Press notes those aren't uncommon with other vaccines, and there have been no major safety concerns. "No matter how you slice this, this is good news," Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, told AP. In July, Moderna will begin a 30,000-person study to prove if the shots are strong enough to protect people from the virus. While the first phase does indicate the vaccine produces antibodies, it's less clear if the levels of antibodies are enough to actually fend off infection.

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