The data from the studies conducted by both vaccine developers suggest the need for a booster shot or a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The companies highlighted that the protection from their COVID-19 vaccine against infection diminishes over time.
Healthcare giants on track to develop COVID-19 booster shot over waning post-vaccine immunity
A COVID-19 booster shot is an additional dose administered after the protection obtained from the original doses starts to drop. The booster or a third dose is meant to help people maintain their immunity level for a longer period.
RELATED ARTICLE: COVID-19 booster shot for immunocompromised people: are there any additional risks?
US vaccine developers Moderna Inc (NYSE:MRNA) and Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) are developing the booster shots for their COVID-19 vaccines. A third dose or a booster shot of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines is identical to the initial two shots. Besides, the booster shot can help protect the people who are immunocompromised and whose immune system is not strong enough to response to the first two shots of the mRNA based COVID-19 vaccines.
RELATED READ: Role of mRNA vaccines in combating COVID-19: Pros & Cons
Source: © Angellodeco | Megapixl.com
Moderna’s new data supports booster dose of mRNA-1273
The US drugmaker Moderna Inc has released new data that supports the booster dose of its mRNA based COVID-19 vaccine- mRNA-1273. In addition, the Company highlighted that a new analysis of an open-label portion of the Phase 3 study demonstrated a reduced risk of breakthrough infection in the trial participants vaccinated more recently as compared to the participants vaccinated last year.
Interestingly, Moderna also highlighted that mRNA-1273 remains very much effective against COVID-19 in real-world efficacy evaluation during the rise in Delta cases. The Company is confident that this adds to evidence of the potential benefit of mRNA-1273 as a booster dose.
Source: © Fokussiert | Megapixl.com
FDA cited lack of verified data for Pfizer’s booster shot
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to take a stand on whether to support booster shots of Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE’s (NASDAQ:BNTX) COVID-19 vaccine. The US regulator highlighted that it had not verified all the available data. The FDA also stated that some observational studies have suggested declining efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine over time against the delta variant, while other studies have not.
The FDA is looking at the data, including the efficacy numbers out from the Israel study, where the investigators have announced observational studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine against infection diminished over time. According to the data from the Israel study, a third dose or booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine can dramatically decrease rates of COVID-related illness in people of 60 years and old.
RELATED READ: Pfizer booster shot - Which other vaccines may require booster doses?
Bottom Line
While the debate on booster shot necessity is ongoing, healthcare companies are on track to develop booster shots for their COVID-19 vaccine. As per the studies done by vaccine developers Moderna and Pfizer, the protection from the original doses of COVID-19 vaccine wane over time, creating a need for a third booster dose.
