AUSTIN, Texas — After Pfizer announced that its COVID-19 vaccine trial has produced results indicating it is 90% effective, one Austin artist is saying she has renewed hope for her creative career. 

"It's a variety of circus, costuming, elaborate makeup, and very theatrical-like campy vibes," said Katie Drackert, describing her work as a performance artist. “A lot of interactive live events, whether it was dancing, or being like a roaming character or doing a stage act like a variety show.”

It’s a passion she was able to translate into a lifestyle. 

“Pre-COVID my finances were at a point where I was probably like 60 to 70% paying for my life through art, and then the other part was like doing the nannying or other side hustles," said Drackert. "This past South By [Southwest] I was set to make the most I’ve ever made in a month.” 

Then the pandemic hit and her income from her art dried up. 

“I feel like my career was getting really good momentum when COVID hit, and it was emotionally devastating because I've poured my whole life into my art and I've revolved kind of everything I do around it. So it was, it was pretty painful and then financially, it was obviously devastating," said Drackert. 

She went from having gigs lined up for the rest of the year to an empty calendar. Now she’s nannying to make ends meet, and doing her best to keep creating art, albeit virtually. 

“It's been mentally challenging because I'm like, am I even an artist anymore now that I'm not working? Like what is my art even gonna look like? When am I personally going to feel comfortable performing in front of a large crowd again?" said Drackert. 

The news about Pfizer’s vaccine gives Drackert a bit of hope. 

“I kind of feel speechless when I think about it because at this point I feel like I've dove so far into just surviving the economic impact of COVID," said Drackert. "It would be like a nice weight lifted off of my shoulders. I'll probably cry the first time I perform at an event and everybody's been able to get vaccinated and that's been accessible, I think I'll definitely like have some happy tears, for sure.”

She says the thought about the day she can share her art again with the world is exciting.

"I think people are really hungry for live entertainment right now and they really miss, you know, artists and witnessing the creative experience and I think after all of this traumatic stuff, audience and performers being able to connect with each other will be like a whole new bond created after living through this year.”

Pfizer says it's looking to get emergency-use authorization by the end of November. Currently the expectation is to have more than a billion free doses ready for Americans by next year.