Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on Wednesday that a 4th Covid vaccine dose may be needed sooner than expected due to the Omicron variant. Speaking to US network CNBC Bourla said that he originally expected a fourth dose 12 months after the third, but he told CNBC it might be needed faster than that. He argued:
- “When we see real-world data, will determine if the omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long”
- “And the second point, I think we will need a fourth dose.”
The Pfizer CEO said that people might need a fourth Covid-19 shot sooner than expected after preliminary research shows the new omicron variant can undermine protective antibodies generated by the vaccine the company developed with BioNTech.
Pfizer and BioNTech released results from an initial lab study Wednesday morning that showed a third shot is effective at fighting the omicron variant, while the initial two-dose vaccination series dropped significantly in its ability to protect against the new strain. However, the two-dose series likely still offers protection against getting severely sick from omicron, the companies said.
Bourla noted that a preliminary study by the company was based on a synthetic, lab-created copy of the variant and more data is needed from tests against the real virus. Those real-world results will be more accurate and are expected in the next two weeks, the Pfizer CEO said.
“When we see real-world data, will determine if the omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long. And the second point, I think we will need a fourth dose,” Bourla told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
Bourla previously projected that a fourth shot would be needed 12 months after the third dose. “With omicron we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need it faster,” he said.
The Pfizer CEO said what’s most important right now is to roll out third doses for the winter. Public health officials are worried about a spike in Covid infections as people gather more indoors to escape the cold.
“A third dose will give very good protection I believe,” Bourla said. He also said that treatments such as Pfizer’s oral antiviral pill, Paxlovid, will help prevent hospitalizations and control Covid during the winter.
Full story incl Bourla’s interview on video: CNBC
PS and after the 4th dose a 5th dose might come earlier and so on and so on… and the Covid-19 virus will keep on mutating when large parts of the world population in poor countries will remain unvaccinated.
hey, if it doesn’t work, no need to admit it was a mistake, especially with so much money and new power on the line, double down!
Please form an orderly queue for vaccination number 4.
We will inform you when number 5,6,7 etc are required
Even me now…Im getting suspicious…the companies making these vaccines must be getting super super mega rich.And I will not have another one until next winter,thats it,this is getting like weird, crazy.
who could have imagined that this happens – months ago this was a conspiracy theory…
We need to keep the vaccine passports to check people ‘s boosters are up to date. Freedom is now dependant on obedience.
You comply because you want this to end the more you comply the worse it gets.
You are all forgetting something: this damned virus is mutating! Of course there will be a need for vaccin support against the new mutations. Unless you have not understood it: this is nothing like the flues we get every year! So, we will have to get the new vaccines to be able to stop it or at least keep it under control!
See the full story on CNBC (sponsored by Pfizer) of course. Why the hell are we asking a salesman whether or not we need his products… just in case of course
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, again …..and again….. and again…… and again…… to infinity.