Medical Treatments

Pfizer Concludes Coronavirus Vaccine Trial And Will Seek FDA Approval

3:54pm November 18, 2020

by Joe Palca

A final analysis of Pfizer's clinical trial found its coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective. The drugmaker will now seek the Food and Drug Administration's approval for emergency use of the vaccine.

Pfizer plans to file within days with the Food and Drug Administration to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine.

Health & Safety

Pfizer To Seek FDA OK For COVID-19 Vaccine 'Within Days'

9:47am November 18, 2020

by Joe Palca

The vaccine was found to be 95% effective in an updated study analysis. Safety data required by the Food and Drug Administration showed no serious concerns, the company said.

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More People Can Access Surgery. That's Great For Them, Awful For The Planet

8:31pm November 17, 2020

by Joanne Lu

With surgical care on the rise globally, researchers worry the energy-consuming procedures will have a negative impact on the climate. But they say there are ways to make them more energy efficient.

In an aerial view from a drone, cars line up at Dodger Stadium for COVID-19 testing in Los Angeles, California.

A Rush On Coronavirus Testing Strains Laboratories, Drives Supply Shortages

5:46pm November 17, 2020

by Rob Stein

More than half of labs are reporting they're running short on test kits, pipettes and crucial chemicals.

Ex-Officials From Trump And Obama Administrations On COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

4:41pm November 17, 2020

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Andy Slavitt, ex-acting head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Scott Gottlieb, former Food and Drug Administration head, on COVID-19 vaccine efforts.

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Researchers are learning that there is a significant relationship between sleep and dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease.

Deep Sleep Protects Against Alzheimer's, Growing Evidence Shows

2:38pm November 17, 2020

by Jon Hamilton

People who get more deep sleep appear less likely to develop Alzheimer's. That may be because this phase of sleep allows the brain to clear out waste products.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 Celsius. Health care providers will need to store it either in dry ice for shorter stints or in specialized freezers.

Health & Safety

Why Does Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Need To Be Kept Colder Than Antarctica?

11:53am November 17, 2020

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

One of the two leading vaccine candidates requires deep, deep freezing. Here's how communities are working to solve for this and how the new Moderna vaccine could help.

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Who Should Be First In Line To Get Coronavirus Vaccine?

4:41pm November 16, 2020

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Dr. Helene Gayle, one of the co-chairs of the National Academies' framework for vaccine distribution, about how the coronavirus vaccine can be distributed equitably.

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Chief Medical Officer On Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine Said To Be Nearly 95% Effective

4:41pm November 16, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Dr. Tal Zaks, chief medical officer at Moderna, about its coronavirus vaccine, which is said to be nearly 95% effective, according to clinical trial data.

Update On A Timeline For When A Coronavirus Vaccine Might Be Available To Americans

3:48pm November 16, 2020

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific adviser for Operation Warp Speed, about Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, which is said to be nearly 95% effective.

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