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comment by b_b
b_b  ·  1467 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Pfizer’s Early Data Shows Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective

If it's true that the effectiveness rate is indeed 90% then probably they should stop the trial early and apply for authorization (this happens from time-to-time in medicine, although it's pretty rare, on the theory that it's unethical to continue to withhold a lifesaving treatment from the public)). However, what I mean by hype is that we have no idea about the details as far as strength of antibodies over time, potential side effects, subgroup analyses of different age and comorbid conditions (which I'm sure they powered for). These things are really important to understanding the full picture, and I don't think it's possible to get those details until the trial is complete. I'm very optimistic, as the stock market clearly is too, but we can't stop looking with a skeptical eye by the same token.