Washington: Pfizer and Bionech have announced that they are developing a Covid-19 booster shot which is intended to target the Delta variant which is very transmitted, according to US media reports.
Concerns continued to increase because Delta’s tensions had become the dominant variant of the US, causing an increase in infection, the Xinhua news agency quoted the report on Thursday.
Both companies said they believed the third shot of their two-dose vaccines today had the potential to preserve the “highest level” protection against all variants that are currently known, including Delta, but they “remain vigilant” and develop the latest version of the vaccine, news report said CNBC.
“This finding is consistent with the ongoing analysis of the company’s 3 phase study,” said the company in a statement issued on Thursday.
“That’s why we have said, and we continue to believe that it is possible, based on the totality of the data we have, that the third dose may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination.” Clinical studies can begin in early August, subject to regulatory approval, the company said.
Executives from Pfizer and Bionth said people would likely need a booster shot, or third dose, within 12 months to be fully vaccinated because they expect immunity to be a vaccine induced from time to time.