The United States is preparing for the possibility that a booster shot will be needed between nine and 12 months after people are initially vaccinated against COVID-19, a White House official said on Thursday.
While studying the duration of immunity after vaccination, booster vaccines may be needed, said David Kessler, chief of staff for President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 response team, at a congressional committee meeting.
“The current thinking is that those who are more vulnerable will have to go first,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N) CEO Albert Bourla said people would “probably” need a third booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines within 12 months and may need photos. CNBC reported on its April 1 comments made public on Thursday. (https://cnb.cx/2Q4MXS1)
Initial data showed that vaccines from Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) and partners Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech SE remain most effective for at least six months, although for how long it has not been established. Read more
Although this protection lasts much longer than six months, experts said that the rapid spread of coronavirus and other variants that could occur could lead to the need for regular booster shots, similar to annual flu vaccines.
The United States is also monitoring infections in people who have been completely vaccinated, Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a hearing in the House subcommittee.
Of the 77 million people vaccinated in the United States, there were 5,800 such infections discovered, Walensky said, including 396 people who needed hospitalization and 74 who died.
Walensky said some of these infections occurred because the vaccinated person did not have a strong immune response. But the concern is that in some cases, they occur in people infected with more contagious virus variants.
Earlier this month, Pfizer and partner BioNTech said their vaccine was about 91% effective in preventing COVID-19, citing updated data from studies that included more than 12,000 people completely inoculated for at least six months. Read more
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