There will likely be a need for an annual Covid vaccination, and for many years to come.
This was reported by Pfizer's CEO, Albert Bourla, in an interview with the BBC, explaining that it would be necessary to maintain a "very high level of protection".
Bourla, who spoke to the BBC prior to the emergence of the Omicron variant, said Pfizer had already made updated vaccines in response to the Beta and Delta variants, but they weren't needed. And the company is now working on an updated vaccine in response to the Omicron variant.
According to Bourla, the new "serum" could be ready in 100 days.
A slightly shorter deadline for Moderna, as specified by Andrea Carfì, chief scientific officer of the pharmaceutical company, who spoke about the efficacy of vaccines against the Omicron variant on Sky TG24.
"We have, over the past months, developed other versions of the vaccine, just to try to be ready in the case of new variants. Then, at the same time, we set out to generate a vaccine that, in fact, is designed precisely for this. new variant and we should be able to start clinical trials in January, "added Carfì. "Moderna has shown in the previous months that it is able to start from the sequence and arrive at clinical trials within 40-60 days. So we hope, by January, to be able to do these tests as well."
Carfì also commented on the timing for the third dose, if after three or five months: "There are no contraindications, it is a decision that must be made on the basis of what is the epidemiology", he said. "Different health systems have to decide when is the best time to administer the third dose, but I think what needs to be emphasized is that it is important to receive the third dose."
(Unioneonline / vl)