One of the scientists behind the exploratory coronavi­rus vaccine formulated by BioNTech and Pfizer asserted on Sunday that he was confi­dent it could dissect the trans­mission of the virus, result­ing in a “dramatic” curb of the virus’ expanse.

Professor Ugur Sahin, chief executive of BioNTech, explained it was “absolutely es­sential” to have an elevated vacci­nation percentage prior to upcoming au­tumn to secure a retrieval to normal life next winter.

“If everything continues to go well, we will start to deliver the vaccine end of this year, beginning next year,” Mr Sahin said. “Our goal is to deliver more than300 million vaccine doses until April next year, which could allow us to already start to make an impact.”

“I’m very confident that transmission between people will be reduced by such a highly effective vaccine — maybe not 90% but maybe 50%- but we should not forget that even that could result in a dramatic reduction of the pandemic spread,” he said. “I am probably the first guy to say that, but I will say that with some confidence,” he said.

Pfizer and BioNTech said last week that provisional findings revealed the vaccine was 90% effective in thwarting people from reaping sick from COVID­19, though they don’t yet have adequate evidence on safety and manufacturing integrity. “What is es­sential is that we get a high vaccination rate before au­tumn/winter next year…,” he said.

He said the goal was to deliver more than 300 million doses worldwide by next April, which “could allow us to only start to make an impact”. He said the bigger impact would happen later, adding: “summer will help us because the infection rate will go down in the summer and what is absolutely essential is that we get a high vaccination rate until or before autumn/winter next year.”