Music organisations have reacted with “cautious optimism” to the announcement of the world’s first effective Covid-19 vaccine.
Preliminary results reported by developers Pfizer and BioNTech earlier this week showed their vaccine can prevent more than 90% from getting coronavirus, with the companies planning to apply for emergency approval by the end of this month.
The development offered a significant boost to the embattled live sector, which has been at a standstill since the spring touring shutdown, and its chances of resuming full-capacity shows in 2021.
Paul Reed, CEO of the UK’s Association Of Independent Festivals, said the news offered encouragement for next summer’s season:
“News of positive progress in the production of an effective vaccine for Covid-19 is cause for cautious optimism among independent festival organisers,” he said. “This, alongside other areas to monitor such as the development of treatments, rapid testing regimes and scientific studies including Germany’s Restart-19 are all important steps towards making festivals viable again next year.
“There is still some way to go, of course, but this latest development should bring some hope to promoters, artists and fans alike. AIF will continue to work closely with the DCMS, Public Health England and wider industry in developing propositions for how festivals could operate in 2021.”