Looks like we got this one

Pfizer and BioNTech say the final analysis of their Covid-19 vaccine shows it’s 95 percent effective — take that Moderna, with your measly 94.5% effectiveness.

More people say they’ll get it, too.

And in case it matters, Moderna has the Dolly Parton seal of approval.

Can we please just enjoy the moment?

There’s always that guy who has to spoil the party. For today, the role will be played by The New York Times, Politico, and Bloomberg.

NYT: “The Vaccines Will Probably Work. Making Them Fast Will Be the Hard Part*.”

Politico: “Inoculations by December? States aren’t so sure.”

Bloomberg: “Vaccine Safety to Remain Unclear Until Millions Get Their Shots”

* America has plenty of faults, but when it comes to doing the impossible and doing it quickly — we got this.

Darkest before the dawn

While it looks like we’re heading to the pandemic endgame (the “last big surge“), don’t forget that the situation is still six shades of awful. A vaccine won’t help anyone who gets Covid-19 over the holidays. Is the Joy of Family™ worth the risk of permanent heart, lung, and even brain damage?

Georgia’s case numbers are going up, if you haven’t heard — we’re not being spared this latest wave.

If it helps, Zoom is removing the 40-minute time limit for free meetings on Thanksgiving. So prop up that cam and keep it virtual just this once.

More good news

Two studies seem to show that Covid-19 immunity will last months.

• The first comes out of the La Jolla Institute of Immunology and found that after six to eight months, “T cells showed only a slight, slow decay in the body, while B cells grew in number — an unexpected finding the researchers can’t quite explain.”
• And research out of Howard Hughes Medical Institute also found months of immunity: “These antibodies may be evolving in response to residual viral antigen hidden in the gut.”

Foreshadowing for season 2?

“An Emerging Ebola-Like Virus in Bolivia Can Spread Between Humans, Scientists Find”

WellStar shout out

Kudos to WellStar’s Laura Pearson — the oncologist, surgeon, and breast program medical director was featured in the Cobb County Courier talking about breast cancer awareness.

“[T]he good news in all of this is we’re actually really good at taking care of breast cancer. And so even if somebody is diagnosed with breast cancer, the likelihood of them getting through treatment and going on to live a long productive life is, is really good.”

Tomorrow is World Toilet Day

Celebrate responsibly.

The Long Read: Your Tax Dollars at Work edition

It’s not just Op Warp Speed. Basic research paid for by the government over decades — from lipids and proteins to mRNA — paved the way for nearly all the Covid-19 vaccines in development.