Good news with vaccines, but keep wearing a mask

The news that not just one, but two new vaccines hold promise for great efficacy against the coronavirus is cause for optimism. We are eager for the long nightmare of mounting deaths, sickness, social isolation and uncertainty to be over soon.

But the realization of that hope is still a long ways away. Now is not the time to let down our guard.

We’re in the eighth inning, is how former federal Food and Drug Administration Commissioner and Westport resident Scott Gottlieb put it to Gov. Ned Lamont recently. But the inning could be long and the “game” is far from over.

First the hope. Pfizer, which has a research and development facility in Groton, announced Wednesday its vaccine, in its third phase of trials, shows a 95 percent effectiveness at protection from the virus. That is above the 90 percent initially reported and much higher than most vaccines against other illnesses. The company, which developed the vaccine with Germany-based BioNTech, said it had the necessary two months of safety data required to seek emergency use authorization from the FDA and will do so in a matter of days.

While the efficacy rate was consistent across age, gender, race and ethnicity groups, the company said, it is higher than 95 percent for people older than 65, who are at higher risk from the virus than the general population. That certainly is good news.

A second drug developer, Moderna, announced this week its coronavirus vaccine is 94.5 percent effective and once final safety and efficacy data is completed in the coming weeks, it will apply for FDA approval.

All this promising news comes with a few caveats. Among the logistics of distributing the vaccines is the challenge that the Pfizer dose must be kept at exceedingly low temperatures — around minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which will require specialized refrigeration at individual sites. The Moderna vaccine needs storage at only 36 to 46 degrees.

Both vaccines require two doses, which means the anticipated 50 million produced globally by next month would help only half as many people. Still, that’s a welcome start.

Connecticut is developing guidelines for how the vaccines should be distributed and to whom first. Front line health workers and others most at risk are expected to be the first treated — if all goes well — with the protection not reaching a substantial portion of the general population until around April.

For those who might get inoculated in December, the effectiveness begins 28 days after the first dose, which means any level of protection wouldn’t happen until early next year.

Though relief is not immediate, the possibility is in sight. Which makes it all the more imperative that people continue to assiduously adhere to common sense practices, such as wearing a face mask in public, using hand sanitizer, washing hands frequently and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people.

No one wants to be the last person to die before there’s a vaccine.