Today Moderna, the manufacturer of an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, released early data in its 30,000 participant Phase 3 study of the vaccine. Half of the participants are getting the active vaccine, and half are getting a saltwater injection. The Phase 3 trial is double-blind, so the patients and staff do not know who is getting the active vaccine.
The results indicate that a total of 90 participants contracted the virus: 5 in the vaccine group, and 85 in the control group who received the placebo injection, indicating that the efficacy is 94%. Even more significant, a total of 11 people became seriously ill from the COVID-19, all in the control group who got the placebo and not the vaccine. Although the number of severe cases was small, this indicates that the vaccine may be 100%, or nearly 100%, effective in preventing severe disease.
