IRELAND'S Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has urged the Irish public to treat the news of a potential Covid-19 vaccine with caution.
Dr Holohan insists that it's "too early" to celebrate the beginning of the end of the crisis, and warned that we must all continue to follow necessary public health guidelines in order to beat the virus once and for all.
He was reacting to the news that pharmaceutical company Pfizer confirmed their vaccine trials showed a 90% effectiveness rate.
"We have vaccines available that are both effective and we know what the effect of them will be, and in a position to organise the distribution and the administration of those in line with the supplies that we get as part of the joint procurement arrangement that we have in place with the EU, we'll set out what the schedule will be in terms of vaccination," Holohan said.
"It's hopeful, but it's certainly not a time for celebration, I think we have to keep reminding people that the measures we have available right now.
"The public health measures that we have continually recommended and underscored the importance of. Stick to the public health advice," he stressed.
"People who have symptoms, people who are cases, people who are contacts follow the public health advice in respect of self-isolation and restricted movements respectively."
Despite the CMO's warnings, there's growing optimism that an effective vaccine could be produced and distributed around the world before Spring - possibly even before the New Year.
In a statement on Sunday, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr Albert Bourla, said: "Today is a great day for science and humanity.
"The first set of results from our Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent Covid-19.
"We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.
"With today’s news, we are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis."
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