By Clive Bacchus
St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): With the crippling effect of global pandemic COVID-19 on economies worldwide tossing millions into deeper poverty, the race is on for a vaccine that can restore some degree of normality to international trade, commerce, travel, and the job market.
Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, at a church service at the Estridge Moravian Church on Sunday (November 15), reminded the congregation that St Kitts and Nevis has made a deposit to access vaccines when they become available.
In October, the World Bank approved US$12 billion for developing countries to finance the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine tests, and treatments for their citizens.
BioNtech and Pfizer recently confirmed that their vaccine was found to be 90 percent effective and it had completed a deal for the European Commission to purchase up to 300 million doses of the vaccine.
The US has promised to purchase $1.95 billion worth of the vaccine through the Warp Speed program if it’s approved.
Reuters reported Monday, November 16, that Moderna Inc announced that its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on interim data from a late-stage trial.
Together with Pfizer Inc’s vaccine, which is also more than 90% effective, and pending more safety data and regulatory review, the United States could have two vaccines authorized for emergency use in December with as many as 60 million doses of vaccine available this year., Reuters said.
