Clinical Efficacy

Clinical efficacy in the context of vaccine trials involves evaluating the effectiveness of vaccines across various endpoints. Norman Doidge explains that these endpoints can range from asymptomatic infections to severe cases requiring ICU admission or resulting in death. However, most trials primarily focus on symptomatic infections of any severity rather than on severe cases due to their rarity. For instance, trials by Pfizer and Moderna reported few deaths during the study periods, questioning the trials' adequacy for assessing severe illness outcomes. Larger or longer trials might be necessary for more comprehensive evaluation 1.