As vaccinations continue to roll out against COVID-19, the question remains as to whether additional booster shots will be needed in order to maintain protection against the virus and its variants. Pfizer is already testing to see whether a third shot is necessary -- and now the company's CEO says that's probably the case.
"A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose somewhere between six and 12 months, and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination -- but all of that needs to be confirmed," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said while speaking on a CVS-hosted panel on the vaccination effort.
"There are vaccines like polio, that one dose is enough," Bourla explained, "and there are vaccines like flu that you need every year. The COVID virus looks more like the influenza virus than the polio virus."
The 30-minute discussion, moderated by CNBC correspondent Bertha Coombs and also featuring CVS Health President and CEO Karen S. Lynch, touched on the logistics of the ongoing vaccine rollout, as well as vaccination hesitancy.
Bourla's remarks on the possibility of additional doses comes after Pfizer announced in February that it was trialing a third COVID shot to be taken six to 12 months after the initial two-dose regimen, and examining whether such a shot would offer additional protection against any new strains of the virus that may yet emerge.
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Johnson & Johnson -- whose vaccine rollout was paused this week over rare blood clot concerns -- privately reached out to rival vaccine makers Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca to seek their help in studying clotting risks.
Pfizer and Moderna apparently declined, since their vaccines use different technology. AstraZeneca, whose vaccine was been subject to similar rare clotting concerns, agreed, the people said.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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April 16, 2021 at 08:29PM
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Pfizer CEO: COVID-19 vaccine may require third dose within 12 months - CNET
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