The vaccine developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech, also known as Comirnaty, uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. This is a technique that introduces laboratory-synthesised genetic material into human cells so that they learn to produce a protein, in this case, the Spike protein, which is found in the cover of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this way, the cells are made to manufacture copies of this protein and create antibodies to achieve immunity against the virus.
Clinical trials began in April 2020 and the results were presented on 18 November. In total, 43,661 people participated, distributed among the United States, South Africa, Germany, Turkey, Argentina, and Brazil, according to data provided by the pharmaceutical company. Based on these trials, the pharmaceutical company reported an efficacy of 95%.
Pfizer’s vaccine is administered in two doses at an interval of 21 days. By the end of March, 79 countries had authorised its use, including the United States, the European Union, Australia, and the Persian Gulf states, and ten in Latin America, including Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru, as well as by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The most frequent adverse or side effects are pain in the vaccination prick site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and chills, joint pains or fever, according to the European Medicines Agency. Up to one in 10 people may experience nausea or swelling at the injection site. Rare adverse effects (less than one in 100 people) include swollen lymph nodes, malaise, pain in the limbs, insomnia, and itching at the injection site. Facial paralysis is considered a rare side effect (one per 1,000 people) and no allergic reaction has been detected.
Pfizer’s vaccine can be stored in a freezer for six months at a temperature between -80ºC and -60ºC. During five days it can be kept between 2ºC and 8ºC.
We are a team of young journalists from Barcelona who work independently to combat misinformation in our territory and beyond. We rely on facts and data to verify what politicians say and the falsehoods circulating on social media.
We need you. With your contribution, you will contribute to a healthier political debate and help promote educational projects to teach citizens how to navigate information chaos and defend themselves against misinformation.
You can contribute as much as one euro and it won't take you more than 45 seconds (we've counted them). If you can, please mark your contribution as monthly and so we can continue to do our job rigorously and independently. Thank you so much.
Donate