A Vaccine Breakthrough

<p>It’s a dark time in the struggle with the coronavirus, particularly in the United States, where infections and hospitalizations have surged.</p><p>But amid the gloom comes some light: A trial by the drug maker Pfizer has returned preliminary results suggesting that its vaccine is 90 percent effective in preventing Covid-19.</p><p>With the virus raging, how strong is this new ray of hope?</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/carl-zimmer?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"><strong>Carl Zimmer,</strong></a><strong> </strong>a science writer and author of the “Matter” column for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Pfizer has<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer.html?searchResultPosition=1" target="_blank"> announced positive early results</a> from its coronavirus vaccine trial, cementing the lead in a frenzied global race that has unfolded at record-breaking speed.</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/business/biontech-covid-vaccine.html?searchResultPosition=5" target="_blank">Meet the couple</a> behind the German company, BioNTech, that partnered with Pfizer to develop the vaccine.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><strong>We want to hear from you. Fill out our survey about this show and others at </strong><a href="http://nytimes.com/thedailysurvey" target="_blank"><strong>nytimes.com/thedailysurvey</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>