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This is the information we have on the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine regarding severe cases: “There were 10 severe cases of COVID-19 observed in the trial, with nine

by arrrg 6y ago

This is the information we have on the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine regarding severe cases: “There were 10 severe cases of COVID-19 observed in the trial, with nine of the cases occurring in the placebo group and one in the BNT162b2 vaccinated group.” Just as a reminder, that vaccine had more than 40k people in each group, with 170 cases of COVID-19 being observed, 162 in the placebo group, 8 in the vaccine group. As you can see, the sample sizes get quite small, so I’m not sure how much, if anything, this tells you regarding severe cases. There could have been just as well no severe case in the treatment group, just by luck. What would that tell us? I didn’t find any info regarding severe cases and the Moderna vaccine but I maybe I missed it. Those press releases are hard to read. My source is Pfizer’s press release: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-conclude-phase-3-study-covid-19-vaccine https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-deta...

tialaramex 6y ago
It's about 43k people total, not per group. And I think this was a multi-arm study, they're testing two variables across two population groups - here's the study paperwork: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04368728 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04368728 Everybody in all arms (groups) gets a jab, twice, but what exactly what is in the needle varies. The study paperwork doesn't say which placebo was used in this trial (the participants would definitely have been told), sometimes vaccine studies use a vaccine for something else that you didn't need but is presumably harmless (e.g. think of vaccines you take when going somewhere a bit dubious on holiday). Other times they just use saline. Some other groups got higher doses of vaccine. Anyway, since everybody got stabbed, nobody (as much as possible not even the people giving you a jab) know what's in the needle - everybody gets assessed for side effects. One of the very revealing things about all these studies is how many side effects you get for injecting people with saline. Sore arm makes some sense at least, somebody stuck a tiny needle in your arm - but you'll get headaches, dizziness, flu symptoms even. The mind is powerful.

by arrrg 6y ago

tialaramex 6y ago

It's about 43k people total, not per group. And I think this was a multi-arm study, they're testing two variables across two population groups - here's the study paperwork: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04368728 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04368728 Everybody in all arms (groups) gets a jab, twice, but what exactly what is in the needle varies. The study paperwork doesn't say which placebo was used in this trial (the participants would definitely have been told), sometimes vaccine studies use a vaccine for something else that you didn't need but is presumably harmless (e.g. think of vaccines you take when going somewhere a bit dubious on holiday). Other times they just use saline. Some other groups got higher doses of vaccine. Anyway, since everybody got stabbed, nobody (as much as possible not even the people giving you a jab) know what's in the needle - everybody gets assessed for side effects. One of the very revealing things about all these studies is how many side effects you get for injecting people with saline. Sore arm makes some sense at least, somebody stuck a tiny needle in your arm - but you'll get headaches, dizziness, flu symptoms even. The mind is powerful.