Who will be in line to get Covid vaccine first as study finds jab is ‘90% effective in preventing the disease’

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and biotech firm BioNTech have said findings established their coronavirus vaccine reached that level of protection in preventing Covid-19 among those without evidence of prior infection.

If it is rolled out, guidance has already set out who should be a priority due to their increased risk of death from the illness and the worst outcomes for those who catch it.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance suggests the following groups should be first in line:

*Older adults in a care home and care home workers

*Those aged 80 and over and health and social care workers, although they may be moved into prime place

*Anyone 75 and over

*People aged 70 and over

*All those aged 65 and over

*High-risk adults under 65

*Moderate-risk adults under 65

*All those aged 60 and over

*All those 55 and over

*All those aged 50 and over

*The rest of the population, with priority yet to be determined.

The results of the two-dose vaccine are based on the first interim analysis of Phase 3 of the study, and evaluated 94 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in trial participants.

The study enrolled 43,538 people and no serious safety concerns have been observed, the companies report, with further data to be collected.

The case split between vaccinated individuals and those give a placebo indicates a vaccine efficacy rate above 90% at seven days after the second dose.

This means protection is achieved 28 days after the initiation of the vaccination – with researchers urging caution that as the study as the final efficacy percentage may vary.

The jab is known as a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, which use the virus’s genetic code rather than the virus itself, making it quicker to produce, while they are also cheaper to make.

They can be modified reasonably quickly if, for example, a virus develops mutations.

Dr Albert Bourla, Pfizer chairman and chief executive, said: “Today is a great day for science and humanity.

“The first set of results from our Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent Covid-19.”

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