December 1, 2020

Just six months after beginning a clinical development program that first enrolled volunteers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Pfizer and BioNTech report interim results showing an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine exhibited no serious safety concerns and was found to be 95 percent effective in protecting individuals from COVID-19. "These remarkable results provide hope for this vaccine candidate, as well as other similar COVID-19 vaccines in clinical testing, at a time when we see the nation suffering from the extreme consequences of this pandemic," said Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, the Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, Professor in Vaccinology, professor of medicine and pediatrics, and director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at UMSOM.

In a letter this week to faculty, staff, and students, President Jarrell said: "I hope that you will serve as a messenger in your community and family, sharing your confidence in science and discovery, and that you will encourage others to feel pride in UMB and to feel safe in taking the vaccine when it becomes available."

Read Dr. Jarrell's letter here.
Learn more here.