Thread by @MonicaGandhi9

The interim results of the Moderna vaccine trial released this morning are thrilling. Like the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine (called mRNA-1273) is an mRNA vaccine and this trial enrolled 30,000 participants, 42% of whom were high-risk (7000 over 65 years and 5000

<65 years old with comorbid conditions) and 11,000 of whom were from communities of color. The press release of the interim results of the phase 3 trial of the Moderna vaccine shows a 94.5% efficacy rate at 95 infections (e.g. 5 infections in the vaccine group; 90 in the placebo

group). Vaccine trials often have a secondary endpoint of mitigating severe disease and all 11 of the severe cases of COVID-19 occurred in the placebo group. The vaccine trial will go up to 151 infections and 2 months for safety data before Moderna will file for an emergency use

authorization. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine showed similarly high efficacy results at 90% but that mRNA vaccine requires ultra-cold storage (-70o C), which can present hurdles in widespread distribution.

The Moderna press release includes data that its mRNA-1273 vaccine can stay stable at more standard temperatures for long periods of time (2° to 8°C, the temperature of a standard home or medical refrigerator, for 30 day or -20° C for up to six months), easing distribution

So, these non-pharmaceutical interventions (distancing, masks, hand hygiene, ventilation, no crowds), testing, tracing, isolation & quarantine will need to take us through equitable vaccine distribution (and understanding if boosters necessary) but lots of hopeful news.