Pfizer presented preliminary results supporting the use of a third dose of its coronavirus vaccine in the United States

Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Monday that submitted preliminary results of their clinical trials to US authorities as part of your efforts to obtain a booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone over 16 years of age.

So far, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the third dose of Pfizer and Moderna for people with weakened immune systems because they have not responded like the general population to vaccines, which is estimated to be 3% of the country’s population. .

According to data provided by Pfizer on Monday, the booster dose generated “significantly higher neutralizing antibodies” against the parent strain of the coronavirus, in addition to the beta and delta variantsthe company said in a statement.

Participants in clinical trials received a third dose between eight and nine months after the second, specifies the text.

“The data we’ve seen so far suggests that a third dose of our vaccine causes antibody levels that significantly exceed those of the initial two dosesPfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in the statement.

“We are delighted to be able to present this data to the FDA as we continue to work together to address the changing challenges of this pandemic,” he added.

Pfizer further revealed that expects to receive results from the final stages of the booster dose clinical trials shortly, which will also be presented to the FDA and regulatory authorities worldwide.

The data is released three days after the United States cleared the third dose for people with weakened immune systems, such as organ transplant patients, people living with HIV, or some cancer patients. who did not register an adequate immune response to the first two. vaccines.

At this time, health officials are not recommending a booster dose for the general population, but senior US government epidemiologist Anthony Fauci recently said it would “likely” be needed at some point.

According to local media The New York Times and the Washington Post, The United States plans to announce that almost all of its citizens should receive a booster dose eight months after being vaccinated, a new phase of the vaccination campaign which could begin in mid-September. Both newspapers, which cite officials familiar with the government’s decision, suggest that the official announcement could be made this week.

According to The New York Times, the first doses will go to health workers and those living in retirement homes or centers for people with disabilities. Next on the list will be the elderly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a global moratorium on a third dose of the vaccine until the end of September, because it considers that if countries started administering it, it would not help the global distribution of the vaccine. sera against covid, while the Europea Union has ensured that there is still not enough evidence that they are needed.

(With information from EFE)

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