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Pfizer said Thursday the issue was part of its new strategy to protect humans against new strains of the Corona virus.
Health officials say the first generation of Corona virus vaccines are still effective against newer versions of the outbreak, including British and South African strains.
But manufacturers have started to prepare for the epidemic’s genetic mutations that are more resistant to vaccines.
Firees said that in cooperation with its German partner Biontech, it will provide a third dose to 144 volunteers, who participated in the first vaccine trials in the United States.
The American giant wants to know if a third dose, given after a period of 6 to 12 months, will be enough to stimulate the immune system to ward off the threat of Corona mutation.
Pfizer chief scientist Michael Dolston said the mutation rate of the current virus was higher than expected.
He added that there is a realistic possibility that the vaccines will end up being regularly promoted.
Prior to the approval of the Pfizer vaccine, clinical trials had shown it to be 95% effective and it became the first vaccine to be licensed in the United States.
However, the company’s current two-dose regimen produced a weaker immune response against the South African strain by about two-thirds, according to one study.
Pfizer CEO Albert Burla said his company has yet to see evidence showing the new strains are causing loss of vaccine protection.
He added that despite this, the company was making the right investments and was in talks with its partners to develop a booster vaccine.
In the new study, researchers will check volunteers when injecting the third dose a week later and a month later to see if they have developed neutralizing antibodies.
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