Woman Who Made Pfizer Covid Vaccine Says 3rd Shot Must To Increase Immunity

The chief medical officer of BioNTech, Dr Ozlem Tureci who developed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has claimed that she too believes that a third dose of vaccination will be necessary as the immunity delivered by the vaccine will phase out over time.

Reuters

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Tureci revealed this in a conversation with CNBC¡¯s Exchange while agreeing to the comments made by Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla where he first revealed the need for a third jab last week on April 15.

According to Tureci, people will have to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus annually just like they usually do for flu, as scientists expect the immunity that the vaccine provides would gradually phase out.

She said, ¡°We see indications for this also in the induced, but also the natural immune response against SARS-COV-2. We see this waning of immune responses also in people who were just infected and therefore [it¡¯s] also expected with the vaccines.¡±

Also Read: People Will Need Third Covid-19 Vaccine Dose In 12 Months, Says Pfizer CEO

On April 15, Bourla had expressed that the recipients of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will need a booster shot -- a third dose of the vaccine to be fully vaccinated.

Earlier this month, Pfizer had announced that its vaccine was 91 percent effective at protecting against the novel coronavirus infection, whereas it was over 95 percent effective against severe cases of SARS CoV-2.

Its competitor Moderna which also uses the mRNA tech has also stated that it remains effective up to 95 percent after six months. Moderna, however, hasn¡¯t released a similar need for administering a third booster shot.

Reuters

US has administered 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses

US today also announced that it has hit its goal of vaccinating 200 million doses within just 100 days. This pledge was first taken by President Joe Biden when he took the office.

Also Read: Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine Safe For 12 To 15-Year-Olds, Claims Company

The initial goal was to administer 100 million doses in the first 100 days, but the nation managed to double the goal. Biden stated yesterday that by April 22, over 80 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Biden has added that now his next goal is to reach everyone under the age of 16 in the nation to get vaccinated. He also announced a new federal programme that will offer American workers paid leave when they take leave for getting vaccinated for the novel coronavirus.