Vax chief: Side effects ‘ minor’
COVID vaccine hero Ugur Sahin has told how the jab should only have very mild side effects.
The boss of Biontech – who developed the Pfizer jab with wife Ozlem Tureci – said that it was proving to be safe during trials.
He said the “key side effects” seen so far were a mild to moderate pain in the injection site for a few days, while some participants had a mild to moderate fever.
He said: ” We did not see any other serious side effects which would result in pausing or halting of the study.
“We have now safety data for a proportion of the subjects for more than two months, and we are continuing to collect data for more than two years to also see the long- term side effect profile.
“But so far the safety profile appears to be absolutely benign.”
Mr Sahin said he reckoned the world would be back to normal next winter if most people are vaccinated by autumn 2021.
He added: “If everything continues to go well, we will start to deliver the vaccine end of this year, beginning next year. What is absolutely essential is that we get a high vaccination rate before autumn/ winter next year.
“I’m confident that this will happen, because a number of vaccine companies have been asked to increase the supply.”
Recalling the moment he was told their vaccine worked, Mr Sahin said it was “extremely relieving”.
He told the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show: “We now know that our vaccine works and most likely other vaccines will also work.
“So this is really a message which not only changes how we develop vaccines, but also increases the likelihood that we will be able to get this pandemic under control.”