Lee Health doctor predicts roadblocks for incoming COVID-19 vaccine

Reporter: Nicole Lauren Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:
COVID-19 vaccines

A local doctor is warning of incoming hurdles for the promising COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Pfizer.

Early analysis shows the vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing symptomatic illness. But it uses brand-new technology that relies on synthetic messenger RNA, which has never been approved for human vaccination before.

It also has to be stored at minus 75 degrees Celsius, which is colder than any vaccine currently used in the U.S., and requires two rounds of treatment.

Dr. Larry Antonnuci with Lee Health isn’t sure everyone will follow up with the second round.

“A couple of things: One is the fact that it is going to require two shots, and any time you have a vaccine that requires two shots your compliance goes down a little bit,” Antonucci said.

The Centers for Disease Control have asked states to be ready to receive Pfizer’s vaccine by Nov. 15.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.