Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Proven 90% Effective in Trials - Great News for Travel Industry!

The world had been waiting with bated breath: since the COVID-19 crisis began, the hope of a vaccine has been that light at the end of the tunnel, particularly for those within the tourism industry. 

There are currently over 30 viable vaccines in different trial stages; however, Pfizer have reported that their vaccine, which is one of the frontrunners, has so far been recorded as over 90% effective. 

BioNTech, the company working with Pfizer on the vaccine, can confirm that there have been no serious side effects in anyone dosed during stage 2 of the trials, and are hoping to apply for ‘Emergency Use Authorisation’ as of next week. 

Compared to those vaccinated, the participants in the trial who received the placebo have been recorded as being almost 10 times as likely to contract the virus. 

The news has sent travel-related stocks into a spin, and has indeed been met with hope across the industry. The implementation of a successful vaccine could mean the reopening of a range of travel industries, including the suffering cruise industry. 

However, there are still several more hurdles we will have to overcome once a vaccine becomes viable. Access will be restricted in the beginning, and it is very likely that certain countries will have ‘first dibs’, meaning opening of borders across the globe may be staggered. 

Even those who do get the vaccine may need to wait several months until the second of the two doses needed, meaning that even if we start dosing at the start of 2021, it is likely that vaccine-certified travel won’t be happening until the second half of 2021. 

Pfizer expects to have 1.3 billion doses in 2021. 

There is hope that other vaccine makers will have similar success to Pfizer, which should take some of the load off and allow the global population easier access. 

Many governments are considering using ‘electronic travel certificates’ to quickly and easily record which travellers have been vaccinated against the virus. Other authorities argue that the vaccine should be voluntary, and shouldn’t be mandatory for travel. 

Will you be taking the vaccine, when it arrives?