Click here for updates on this story
Baltimore (WJZ) — When Pfizer announced a potentially life-saving breakthrough in the coronavirus vaccine, researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine were both stunned and elated.
“When we saw the news, when everybody else saw it yesterday morning, only six months into this effort, we were really thrilled,” Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, the Director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said.
Dr. Neuzil said the Baltimore institution was the first in the United States to administer vaccines in the Pfizer trial back in May.
Now, with research results that show the vaccine is more than 90% effective, there is hope it could cripple the spread of COVID-19.
“We know it’s early data, we know it’s more to come, but it is a terrific starting place,” Dr. Neuzil said.
Cynthia Sikorski, who lives in Howard County, took one of the first experimental doses. She said she’s been COVID-free.
“(I’m) very, very happy to hear that they are so close. It’s just a huge breakthrough for everyone,” Sikorski said.
Despite Pfizer’s news about the vaccine being more than 90% effective, there are some reservations about taking it.
“I’d like to see more proof that it works before I would actually give it and say let’s try it out,” one Baltimore resident told WJZ.
Others in the region said they would take a vaccine when it becomes available.
“I trust the doctors. Most of the time, like you say, doctors know best,” one man told WJZ.
Researchers said of the approximately 40,000 people who were administered the vaccine, only 94 developed COVID-19. Those figures could change as additional data comes in.
“I can say when the vaccine is available, I can feel comfortable taking the vaccine because of this process,” Dr. Neuzil said.
Pending FDA approval, the vaccine could be available for some people before the end of the year.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.