According to the CEO of Pfizer, a fourth vaccine shot for COVID may be apparently necessary sooner than originally anticipated.
CEO Albert Bourla recently announced that people may need a fourth dose of the COVID vaccine sooner than planned, pending “real-world data.”
“When we see real world data, we’ll determine if the omicron is well-covered by the third dose and for how long,” Bourla brayed during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box,
“And the second point, I think we will need a fourth dose,” Bourla continued.
Previously, the Pfizer CEO had declared that a fourth shot of the COVID vaccine would be necessary after twelve months had lapsed since receiving the booster.
“[However], with omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information,” Bourla said ominously, noting that “we may need it faster.”
On Wednesday, Pfizer revealed the results of initial trials, making the claim that booster shoots improve individual resistance to the omicron variant up to “25 fold.” Though these results are encouraging, it should be recalled that they are based upon synthetic versions of the omicron variant, created in a laboratory.
Results from real world data are likely to be more accurate, and they will be released over the next two weeks.
The high level of efficacy demonstrated by the study illustrates why Bourla wasnts to start rolling out third doses of the COVID vaccine in the winter.
“A third dose will give very good protection, I believe,” the CEO remarked.
Bourla also discussed Paxlovid, which is Pfizer’s oral antiviral pill, as the company submitted data related to Paxlovid to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 5. Currently, Pfizer is awaiting approval for emergency use authorization (EAU) of the new drug.
Numerous federal agencies have commented upon the usefulness of the pill, and the Biden administration has indicated that it intends to purchase 10 million doses of Paxlovid once the FDA approves it for EAU. In addition, Pfizer has also inked an agreement with a nonprofit organization in order to provide instructions for producing Paxlovid in 95 nations for different low-income communities.
On Thursday, the FDA approved Pfizer vaccine booster shots.
