FDA Approves Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine For Emergency Use, Baltimore Hospital Among Those To Work On Vaccine Trials
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The FDA on Friday approved Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine were among those to work on multiple vaccine trials, including Moderna's.
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Dr. Matthew Laurence, a COVID-19 vaccine researcher from the school's Center for Vaccine Development, said Moderna's vaccine performed better than expected.
Today, FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the second vaccine for the prevention of #COVID19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. The emergency use authorization allows the vaccine to be distributed in the U.S for use in individuals 18 years and older. https://t.co/w4BQVg0n2G pic.twitter.com/cw5JwYqxsh
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) December 19, 2020
"The expectation was far lower as far as how well the vaccine would protect, but the fact that it gave more than 90% efficacy is just astounding," he said.
Moderna is the second company to be granted emergency use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine from the FDA. Pfizer was granted emergency use on December 12.
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