Fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose "necessary" according to Pfizer CEO

Mar 16 2022, 10:39 pm

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla suggested a fourth dose of his company’s COVID-19 vaccine is essential to prevent further infections.

Bourla made the comments during a March 13 interview with American broadcaster CBS where he said Pfizer is working on a vaccine for the Omicron variant. Bourla is hopeful that protection from the Omicron-tailored shot will last for a year.

“It is necessary, a fourth booster right now,” Bourla told CBS’ Margaret Brennan. “The protection that you are getting from the third, it is good enough, actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths. It’s not that good against infections.”

The CEO said Pfizer has submitted a data package to the US Food and Drug Administration for a fourth shot to see if health officials agree with the company’s recommendation.

Bourla’s comments come as many Canadian provinces are lifting mask mandates and scrapping their vaccine passports.

In Canada, someone with two shots is considered fully vaccinated, and many people have received a booster dose.

Health Canada told Daily Hive it hasn’t received a submission or clinical trial data from Pfizer about a fourth dose yet.

A spokesperson for the agency said a complete series of COVID-19 vaccine offers good protection against serious illness and hospitalization for most people, although protection can decrease over time.

Right now, individuals who are moderately to severely immunocompromised are being offered a fourth dose at the six-month mark after receiving their booster shot.

“Data on a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for populations that received a two dose primary series is currently limited,” Health Canada said. “The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is reviewing the data as it emerges and will provide updated recommendations as needed.”

Daily Hive StaffDaily Hive Staff

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