Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine 100% effective against South African variant

Updated trials results confirmed the high efficacy of the Covid-19 shot developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, including against the new strain of the virus first detected in South Africa, which is known as B1351.

The new trial data, which included that for 12,000 people who had been vaccinated for up to six months, showed that the shot was 91.3% effective in preventing Covid-19.

In South Africa meanwhile, the vaccine showed 100% efficacy, although the number of trial participants from the African country was relatively small, at 800.

Pfizer and BioNTech were expected to file for full regulatory approval of the vaccine with the US Food and Drug Administration.

"[The trial data] provide the first clinical results that a vaccine can effectively protect against currently circulating variants, a critical factor to reach herd immunity and end this pandemic for the global population," said BioNTech chief Ugur Sahin.

No serious safety concerns were observed among trial participants.