Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

BNT162b2 is synonomous with the Pfizer BioNTech mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine was produced from theoretical design to finished product and distribution in less than one year. This was the first published paper on that vaccine. It was posted online on 12-10-2020, with updates on 12-16-2020. It first appeared in print on 12-31-2020.

This paper was also the first appearance in print of a paper describing a vaccine fabricated using the mRNA platform. The vaccine was initially administered under "emergency use authorization" granted by the U.S. FDA until the FDA granted full approval for this vaccine on August 23, 2021.

This vaccine delivers the mRNA needed to code for the membrane anchored S (spike) protein to the inside of the host cell inside an encapsulating hollow lipid nanoparticle. That mRNA then instructs the host cell to produce S protein molecules, which are then ferried out of the host cell, and act as the antigen/immunogen for this vaccine once outside of the cell.

Order of authorship in the original publication: Polack, Thomas, Kitchin.

(Thanks to Juan Weiss for this reference and its interpretation.)