The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the use of a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for immediate use to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vaccine is the first approved by the WHO for immediate use and distribution, effective at protecting against the viral disease.
According to WHO, Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine met the criteria for safety and efficacy with a 95 percent efficiency rate at preventing infection with just two doses.
In 2020, the vaccine, known as BNT162b2, or Tozinameran, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for immediate use within the U.S. and abroad.
The assistant-director general at the WHO commented on the announcement, stating, “This is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to COVID-19 vaccines. But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere.”
