Pfizer announced today (Thursday) that it is considering the addition of another vaccine against the corona virus. The test is performed in the shadow of the particularly encouraging data from the study conducted by Clalit Health Fund, and the significant decrease in the morbidity data that comes as a result of the vaccine.
Pfizer has announced that it is conducting research into an additional dose of “reinforcement” for people who were vaccinated more than six months ago. In an interview with NBC CEO Albert Burla, he said he hoped the third dose would boost the immune response better, and provide better protection against the various mutations: “We believe the third dose will increase the antibody response 10 to 20 times.”
The new study will examine the safety and efficacy of a third dose for 144 people in two age groups: 18 to 55 and 65 to 85. Those participants were the first to volunteer to receive Pfizer’s vaccine as early as May. The vaccine dose will be the same as that given to participants last year.
MDA’s Mobile Vaccine Operation, in Afula (Photo: Afula Municipality Spokeswoman)In addition, Pfizer will test a different version of the vaccine that will provide more effective protection from the South African mutation. “Every year you have to get the flu vaccine, it will be the same with the corona,” Burla said. He added that the company’s goal, if and when another mutation appears, is to deal with it through a vaccine 100 days later.
As you may recall, so far it can be pointed out that Pfizer’s existing vaccine remains effective against various corona mutations first identified in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.
Meanwhile, Moderna, the other company that developed the vaccine against the corona, announced yesterday that it too has begun researching the effects of adding a third dose to its vaccine and that it has developed a version of the vaccine designed to deal with the South African mutation.