Most Pharmacies Express Readiness To Administer COVID-19 Vaccines Once Available

The COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Inc. and Pfizer Inc./BioNTech SE are neck-and-neck in terms of efficacy data and timing, but a number of requirements for Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccine, particularly ultra-cold storage, could give an edge to Moderna’s product. A forthcoming survey by a pharmacist professional group will show that more than half of retail pharmacies – a likely destination for a lot of people seeking to get vaccinated – are fully prepared to administer vaccines as soon as they are available or making final preparations to ready themselves. Another third will not be able to participate in the first wave of vaccinations, but will be prepared for future phases.

Moderna announced it had filed mRNA-1273 for emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration on 30 November. Updated data from its Phase III COVE trial showed an efficacy rate of 94.1%, slightly less than the 94.5% efficacy rate the company had previously announced on 16 November, but still high and still within the range of the efficacy rate for Pfizer and BioNTech’s BNT162b2, which was 95%