Coronavirus vaccine: From Moderna's 94.5% efficacy rate to Pfizer's shot, an update on the most promising contenders

We are nearing the end of the year and eleven months on, the pandemic is still continuing to spread across the world in an alarming manner. Meanwhile, exciting progress has been made on the vaccine front. Nearly 5 candidates have announced promising research on their novel coronavirus vaccines right now. Moderna's latest report gave the world hope that one day soon, we might be able to tackle the virus successfully.

As more companies await safety reports and channelize production, we bring to you the updates on the most sought after COVID vaccines we have right now:

Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has emerged as the most recent and perhaps the strongest competitor in the race right now. The company announced the findings of early observatory data, which found that the vaccine, which is the first of its kind the company is making for large-scale use is over 94.5% effective. Strong positive data also made US Infectious Disease expert, Anthony Fauci term the results, 'stunningly impressive'.

The 94.5% efficacy rate Moderna has promised is currently higher than what any of the other vaccine candidates in contention has. The data may also prompt US authorities to grant emergency use authorisation and begin vaccinating priority groups in the country by December.

According to agency reports, the efficacy rates have emerged after independent monitoring done at the beginning of phase III trials, which involve 30,000 volunteers. All but five incidents of illness were reported in the group two weeks after the second dose of the experimental jab was given to people.

Moderna's spokespersons, who had already advertised strong workability odds of the vaccine have also said that no major side-effects, complaints were reported in the volunteer group, marking it relatively safe.

There is yet another reason why Moderna's vaccine may be one of the best ones under offering right now. The vaccine makers have announced plans to supply 20-million doses of the jab in the coming months, which, they assure will stay stable under normal temperature settings. Not only does it require relatively less cold temperatures (-2 to 4-degree Celcius) for storage, the doses can also stay stable in a refrigerator set for upto 30 days time. It can be also shipped for longer use, making it an accessible vaccine for demographically diverse nations.

Pfizer's was one of the earliest vaccine makers to announce safety data of its novel vaccine candidate, developed in collaboration with German pharma major, BioNTech. The vaccine, which is currently in the critical leg of phase III testing was found to be over 90% safe. The reports emerged from observatory data collected from phase I/II trials. The vaccine's workability for the high-risk groups, including the older people who were part of the volunteer groups also makes it one of the top candidates in the race currently. No side-effects have been observed as of right now.

However, the biggest struggle with the Pfizer shot remains pricing and storage. Even before the vaccine entered phase III, high pricing of the vaccine shot (which may cost upwards of $20) worried experts. Secondly, the vaccine jab needs a special form of supply access, needing to be stored at extremely cold temperatures, which won't be possible everywhere.

Pfizer has also said that initially, the promised 20-million dosage supply will be restricted to countries which have a deal with the manufacturers. The United States, being one country to have immediate access to the doses. European Union is also said to have signed a pact to reserve 200 million doses of the Pfizer shot by next year. Meanwhile, authorities in India are also said to be in talks with the medicine giant to have their COVID-19 vaccine made available, strategically.

India's homegrown vaccine, Bharat Biotech backed COVAXIN, which has been witnessing unprecedented success rates in early phases of testing has now entered phase III study across 17 centres in India. Phase III trials will see the involvement of nearly 26,000 (the largest in India so far) volunteers, which will be done in collaboration with ICMR. It's also the first time an Indian vaccine has reached phase III clinical testing during the COVID-19 crisis, which has infected over 8.97 million people in India.

COVAXIN, which has been made using an inactive version of the virus has been found to be largely safe and effective in preventing infections in phase I/II studies. Tolerable immunogenicity response was seen as well. While authorities have promised that COVAXIN's efficacy rates and delivery timeline match that of the global candidates, we are yet to know when exactly would we have doses ready. Nonetheless, it's a promising chapter for Indian medicine makers.

Apart from this, another Indian maker, ZyCOV-D will head to phase III trials soon. Vaccine maker, Biologic E is also expected to start clinical trials of one of its experimental COVID-19 vaccines. Bharat Biotech, interestingly, is also working on making a special nasal COVID vaccine in partnership with a global firm.

Russia's ambitious yet controversy-ridden COVID-19 vaccine, which was one of the first ones to be registered for use will be finally be making its way onto the Indian shores. As per reports, the vaccine, which will be marketed by pharma giant, Dr Reddy's, will be reaching a medical facility in Kanpur first. Testing and monitoring which will happen in the next few weeks will see the experimental vaccine tested on at least 1500 volunteers across ten centres. Earliest safety reports from Russia's evaluation centres have shown that the vaccine is 92% effective.

The Sputnik V vaccine, which has already been given to select priority groups in Russia is produced in two forms, a liquid form, which has to be stored at a temperature setting of -18 degree Celcius, and a freeze-dried version, which can be stored at relatively easier temperatures (2-8 degrees Celcius).

After combined phase II/III testing wraps up by December-January, experts have suggested that the earliest doses of the vaccine may be available for inoculation in India by March-April.

As India recorded one of the lowest daily spikes in the recent months of the pandemic, Serum Institute of India offered encouraging hope that Indian masses may have access to a COVID-19 vaccine soon. While the Oxford developed vaccine may still await safety data, its Pune-based partner announced that over 100 million doses of the experimental jab shall be made ready by the month of December, which was the promised deadline. Government authorities are also preparing lists of healthcare workers and essential staff who would be vaccinated on a priority basis. Terming it to be an advanced timeline for production, SII has promised to reserve at least 50% doses for India and other developing nations at an affordable rate.

It should be noted that the Oxford-Astrazeneca trials are still in phase III globally. Safety results will be expected by the middle of December.