Finally, an FDA Approval for an Immunization Against COVID-19: Hope on the Horizon

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection known as severe respiratory acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The purpose of this manuscript is to review information leading to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

Data sources: A literature search was conducted of PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov (August 2018-October 2021) to identify trials related to the FDA approval of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

Study selection and data extraction: Trials included are those the FDA deemed significant and accurate enough to be included in the FDA approval process. Information not recognized by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nor FDA is omitted to not add to further confusion and misinformation.

Data synthesis: In persons 16 years or older without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, a total of 77 COVID-19 cases (0.39%) in the vaccine group from 7 days onward after the second dose vs 833 (4.1%) in the placebo group (Vaccine efficacy 91.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 88.8-93.1). According the CDC definition of severe infection, there were no severe infections in the vaccine group 7 days and onward after the second dose, compared to 31 (0.15%) in the placebo group (Vaccine efficacy 100%; 95% CI: 87.6-100.0). Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Reduction of infection by SARS-COV-2 is a top priority in protecting the health of all people and the official approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination may improve this goal.

Conclusions: Data available show a high efficacy rate of preventing SARS -CoV-2 with relatively low rates of ADE after full vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine; SARS-CoV-19.