Moderna finds "enormous hope" in its preliminary vaccine data, according to Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University.
However, del Rio said that it will take time for the effect to be felt due to the complications involved in distributing Covid-19 vaccines to Americans.
“It’s going to take a while to roll them out. ... This is a major effort. We probably need to vaccinate close to 200 million to 260 million Americans in order to get to herd immunity,” del Rio told “The Exchange.” “That’s not going to be easy.”
Del Rio’s statements came after Moderna issued its preliminary data earlier Monday that says its Covid-18 vaccine was more than 94% effective in treating Covid-19. The interim analysis revolved around its large-scale trial of 30,000 participants. Emory University was involved in phase one trial as well as in the phase three trial.
Moderna must still apply for emergency use authorization with the Food and Drug Administration. Once it has granted the company one, the regulatory agency will move “as quickly as possible” when assessing the coronavirus vaccine, according to Alex Azar, who leads the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The FDA will observe the same standard for the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech, according to Azar. The companies presented preliminary data last week showing their vaccine was more than 90% effective in responding to Covid-19.
“We hope those applications from both Pfizer and Moderna will get in as quickly as possible,” Azar told “Squawk Box.” “We will independently call those balls and strikes on the data and evidence, but we’re going to do so as quickly as possible, consistent with just making sure the science, the evidence, and the law support authorization.”
“If we can do that we will be back to a normal state by the end of next year,” said del Rio, who also is co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research. “So, for the time being, we have to use our face masks. We have to continue socially distancing, avoiding crowded places. But the vaccine offers tremendous hope for everyone.”
Del Rio, who was concerned about political interference in the approval process, said on Monday that he trusts that Moderna's vaccine is safe. “The science that has gotten us to this point is absolutely terrific,” he said.
“I would not be afraid of the vaccine. I’m more afraid of getting Covid, quite frankly,” del Rio added. “I’m ready to sign up. As soon as I’m able to get this vaccine, I will get it, and I will recommend to all my family and friends to also get the vaccine. I’m not afraid of side effects. I’m afraid of getting Covid.”
In September, Moderna said its clinical trials will slow down its schedule to ensure the participation of minorities, the elderly, and those with underlying conditions.
Moderna clinical trials aimed to register 30,000 individuals in the US to prove the safety and efficacy of its candidate coronavirus vaccine. As of Aug. 28, the drug manufacturer had enlisted 17,458, 24% of whom are from communities of color. The company presents updates on enrollment numbers every Friday afternoon.
“It is particularly important to make sure that Black and Latinx participants are represented equitably in the trials and the vaccine shows protective efficacy in different populations of people,” she added.
Moderna’s data revealed that two-thirds of those registered in the study are White, 20% are Hispanic or Latino and 7% are Black.
“We believe we could have one of the best vaccines,” Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC. “We want to ensure we have data for all the people who could benefit and be protected.”
