Moderna seeks emergency use authorization from FDA for COVID-19 vaccine

Drug company Moderna has submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine.

This comes after the company’s latest results show its vaccine is 94% effective at preventing COVID-19 and 100% effective at preventing severe cases of the disease.

Moderna is the second company to apply for emergency use authorization of a coronavirus vaccine. This means the country could see two coronavirus vaccines before the end of the year.

“I’m glad that I will be able to say I was a part of making this happen,” said Ann Brooks, of Everett.

Brooks volunteered for Moderna’s phase 3 clinical trial. At the time, she didn’t think it was particularly brave or noble.

“I felt like I wanted to witness the process, to be a voice of reassurance for my friends and family and people I know that, yeah, they did this thing right,” Brooks said.

She and her husband were both selected for the trial. Neither knows whether they received the vaccine or a placebo. Neither experienced any side effects.

Moderna is the first company to start clinical trials back in March in Seattle. It uses genetic material known as messenger RNA to makes vaccines. No vaccine made with this technology has reached the market yet.

“You know, on a personal level, when we saw the first interim results, I think we were all really, really relieved and an enthusiastic. I can tell you when I saw the final results last night, they came in a little bit earlier than we had planned for. I allowed myself to cry for the first time,” said Dr. Tal Zaks, Moderna’s chief medical officer.

It is major news as the coronavirus rampage worsens across the globe.

Brooks is just happy she could play a role.

“If I can do something that helps save lives and makes people stay healthy, I’m in. I’ll do it,” Brooks said.

The FDA is scheduled to review Moderna’s vaccine application on Dec. 17. It’s reviewing Pfizer’s application a week before.

Cox Media Group