COVENTRY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Margaret Keenan, 90, is the first patient in the United Kingdom to receive the Pfizer/BioNtech covid-19 vaccine at University Hospital, Coventry, administered by nurse May Parsons, at the start of the largest ever immunisation programme in the UK's history on December 8, 2020 in Coventry, United Kingdom. More than 50 hospitals across England were designated as covid-19 vaccine hubs, the first stage of what will be a lengthy vaccination campaign. NHS staff, over-80s, and care home residents will be among the first to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which recently received emergency approval from the country's health authorities. (Photo: Getty)
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that recipients of his company’s COVID-19 vaccination, as well as those of similar make-up like the Moderna vaccine, will “likely” require a third dose for increased immunity against the virus and its variants. Bourla also indicated people may need annual doses of the vaccine, similar to a flu shot.
“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 re-vaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role,” Bourla said in an interview with CNBC Thursday. “It is extremely important to suppress the pool of people that can be susceptible to the virus.”
Bourla’s comments have been seconded by Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky who said in February that annual shots will help with immunity, as COVID-19’s several strains emulate those of the flu, meaning annual, revised vaccines would benefit public health.
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Pfizer & BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, as well as Moderna’s have proven more than 95% effective against severe symptoms from the virus. The companies are currently researching the vaccines’ effectiveness after six months, which will likely determine the necessity of a third dose.
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