Early trial results show Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective

DeLAND, Fla. — There’s now a second coronavirus vaccine that’s showing promising results.

On Monday, Moderna announced early results from its trials are indicating its vaccine is 94% effective. It’s also one of the vaccines being tested here in Central Florida.

READ: Coronavirus vaccine: What we know about 3 of the most promising vaccines in development so far

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced last week that its COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be 90% effective against the novel coronavirus and that it will petition the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an emergency use authorization to begin using the vaccine.

Accel researchers will continue to monitor Moderna trial participants over the next two years.

Accel’s medical director, Dr. Bruce Rankin, said one of the more important things left to uncover about both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine is “how long they continue to have protection against COVID-19, and how long those antibodies stay.”

“The trials are geared to help us see if we’re going to need a booster in 12 or 24 months,” Rankin said.

The trials will also determine if anyone develops any serious side effects. So far, none have been reported about either vaccine.

Neither vaccine is made from the coronavirus itself, meaning you won’t get COVID-19 from the shots.

READ: Coronavirus: Moderna says early analysis shows COVID-19 vaccine 94.5% effective

Even if the FDA greenlights both vaccines and the first shots become available next month, the supply will be limited.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will decide who gets vaccinated first, likely being health care workers and people who live and work in long-term care facilities.

Both Moderna and Pfizer have said they can’t supply the global demand themselves. Right now, nine other vaccine candidates are also in late-stage testing around the world.

If you want to take part in a vaccine trial, click here.

READ: Coronavirus: What is a clinical trial?

Video: Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine may be game-changer in COVID-19 fight Moderna is now the second pharmaceutical company to announce its vaccine is more than 90% effective, according to early results. (WFTV)

Cox Media Group