There’s been a rare case of Covid-19 good news today with the announcement that the Pfizer vaccine could be 90 per cent effective. Citing early results from the phase 3 trials of the vaccine, the pharmaceutical company said the initial findings marked ‘a great day for science and humanity’. While it’s still early days and the trial is not complete, the news has been cautiously welcomed by the government.
Few in government expect an immediate end to social distancing
Speaking this lunchtime, the Prime Minister’s spokesman called the results ‘promising’ but warned ‘there are no guarantees’. With limited information available in terms of the full results from the trial so far, they went on to say: ‘we will know if the vaccine is both safe and effective once the safety data is published, it’s only then that licensing authorities can consider it’.
Should the vaccine get the green light, there is still no guarantee of a quick return to normal.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in