Scientists celebrate after news of a '94.5% effective' Moderna coronavirus vaccine
Scientists and health officials have been celebrating the results of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine trials, which appear to be almost 95% effective.
Dr David Nabarro, a World Health Organisation (WHO) special envoy working on the pandemic, said he was 'joyful' about the news, and that it proved science could triumph regardless of politics.
Speaking to BBC News, he said: "We've had quite unusual lack of co-operation between some major countries, and outfits like the one I am associated with, WHO, have had a bit of a kicking.'
He continued: "But on the other hand we've had remarkable scientific co-operation - between the scientists themselves and between the companies, so it is something really to rejoice about."
Moderna's president Dr Stephen Hoge, said the news that the vaccine might be 94.5% effective was a 'stunning realisation' that left him 'grinning from ear to ear'.
He told BBC News: "When we got the news from the data and safety monitoring board, I'll admit I broke character and grinned ear to ear for a minute."
Stephane Bancel, chief executive of the US firm, described it as a 'milestone' and praised the 'hard work and sacrifices of so many'.
The company, which is just 10 years old, received support from the US government's 'Operation Warp Speed' to accelerate its work on a Covid vaccine.
Dr Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US, said the Moderna news 'is really quite impressive', which along with the recent Pfizer vaccine findings, 'is something that foretells an impact on this outbreak'.