The Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective, the companies said in an update on their phase three study today.
It is also 94% effective in adults aged 65 and older, the firms said in an announcement today.
They are now applying for authorization to deploy the vaccine in the US and Europe.
Preliminary data published by Pfizer and BioNTech last week showed the vaccine was 90% effective.
That was followed by data from rival company Moderna showing its vaccine was 95% effective.
In its new update, Pfizer and BioNTech said the vaccine is proving effective across all demographic groups.
Over 43,000 people are taking part in its trial, with some given the vaccine and others given a placebo.
The firms said there have been “no serious safety concerns observed,” only a tiny number of people experiencing headaches and fatigue.
The 95% effectiveness figure announced today is based on 170 trial participants.
“The study results mark an important step in this historic eight-month journey to bring forward a vaccine capable of helping to end this devastating pandemic,” said Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer chairman and CEO.
“We continue to move at the speed of science to compile all the data collected thus far and share with regulators around the world.”
He added: “With hundreds of thousands of people around the globe infected every day, we urgently need to get a safe and effective vaccine to the world.”
The firms are expecting to produce up to 50 million doses of the vaccine in 2020 and as many as 1.3 billion by the end of 2021.
