The biotechnology company Moderna announced on Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 94.5% effective at preventing infection, based on early data.

The results are “very impressive,” said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, in an interview with the New York Times.

“I had been saying I would be satisfied with a 75% effective vaccine,” Fauci said. “Aspirationally, you would like to see 90, 95%, but I wasn’t expecting it.”

Researchers test vaccines by inoculating some study participants and giving others placebos, and then observing the two groups to see how many people get sick.

In Moderna’s study, out of the 95 people who contracted the virus, 90 of them were given the placebo and 5 were vaccinated. Of the 11 cases that were considered severe, all of them were in the placebo group. These results show that the vaccine significantly reduced the chances of those who received it from contracting the virus.

Moderna also reported that its vaccine has a longer shelf life under refrigeration and at room temperature than previously thought, which should make it easier to store and use, especially in low-income areas in hot climates.

Despite the preliminary success of Moderna and Pfizer, health experts anticipate that COVID-19 vaccines will likely not be widely available to the American public until April next year, partly because most vaccines in development will require two doses per person.

As safe and effective vaccines become available, the international community must commit to equitable access, since it is the fastest way to end a global health crisis.

Read the full article about Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by Kristine Liao at Global Citizen.