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Covid-19 vaccine updates
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Protection against Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine wanes six to eight months after the second dose, according to data released Wednesday, as the company tries to persuade regulators to approve a booster program.
Before a crucial meeting of the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccine Advisory Committee on Friday, Pfizer submitted an independent study from Kaiser Permanente Southern California suggesting that the vaccine’s efficacy naturally declines over time, “regardless of the variant.” , rather than because of the Delta strain. escaping his jab.
Pfizer presented data showing how the vaccine became progressively less effective at two-month intervals. The vaccine’s efficacy dropped by about 6% every two months after the second dose, from 96.2% one week after the full vaccination to 83.7% more than four months later.
The company also cited Israeli data showing that a third recall restored up to 95% protection against Covid-19, according to documents filed with the FDA.
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The FDA advisory committee will meet on Friday to decide whether to recommend that the regulator authorize a booster dose of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine, and for which populations. The FDA has already approved booster doses of mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer’s for people with weakened immune systems.
Documents released by the FDA show that Pfizer asked regulators to approve a recall six months after people received their second injection.
In a separate assessment of Pfizer’s vaccine data, the FDA said the drop in antibody levels in those vaccinated may have been linked to the increase in cases seen over the summer as the Delta variant s ‘is propagated.
But officials said the data was inconclusive as to whether the vaccine’s ability to stop symptomatic infection had waned, a sign of internal friction within the regulator over whether boosters are needed.
“Overall, the data indicates that the Covid-19 vaccines currently licensed or authorized in the United States still provide protection against serious Covid-19 illness and death in the United States,” the agency said. in a backgrounder also released on Wednesday.
The Biden administration has said it wants to start rolling out a vaccine booster program next week alongside a dozen other countries concerned about an increase in breakthrough infections among those vaccinated.
The plan proved controversial and drew criticism from two leading US scientists, who recently announced their retirement from the US drug watchdog.
These scientists, Philip Krause and Marion Gruber, this week co-authored a report concluding that there was insufficient evidence to justify a booster program at a time when vaccine supplies remain severely limited in others. parts of the world.
Angela Hwang, president of the Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals group, said the available data supported a recall program to protect the public and help end the pandemic as soon as possible.
“Big picture, reinforcement is important, reinforcement is necessary. This is the way we have to protect individuals and the public, ”she said Wednesday at the BofA Global Healthcare investor conference.
As the Biden administration prepares to decide whether or not to give the green light to the recall plan, the US president is also trying to revive the country’s declining vaccination rate.
Biden is due to meet with business leaders at the White House on Wednesday as he seeks corporate support for his administration’s new vaccine mandates. The meeting aims to show strong support for its decision to require medium and large businesses to insist that their staff be either vaccinated or tested for Covid-19 at least once a week.
Participants include Bob Chapek, CEO of Disney; Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, and Joshua Bolten, head of the Business Roundtable.
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