The vaccine manufacturers Biontech / Pfizer assume that the protective effect of the mRNA vaccine wears off after six months. A third dose of vaccine is supposed to bring a further boost and increase the antibody levels significantly.
Vaccinated twice, protected against corona forever? It has long been in the room that booster vaccinations may be necessary. On Thursday, vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Biontech spoke up in a joint statement. They assume that the protective effect of the common coronavirus vaccine will decline after six months.
“Although protection against serious illness remains high for six months, efficacy against symptomatic cases can be expected to decrease over time and to develop variants,” the two companies said. Based on the data available so far, it is likely “that a third dose will be required within six to twelve months after the full vaccination”.
In an ongoing study of a third vaccination “encouraging data” can be observed, said the two companies. The first data show that a third vaccination with the Biontech vaccine increases the amount of antibodies by five to ten times. According to the information, the companies also expect that a third dose will reliably work against the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. Details should soon be published in a scientific journal.
Biontech / Pfizer want third approval
In addition, it is planned to submit the data to the US FDA, its European counterpart EMA and other regulatory authorities in the coming weeks. Pfizer and Biontech assumed that a third dose would provide the highest level of protection against all coronavirus variants tested so far, it said. Biontech is also currently working on a vaccine that will specifically protect against the Delta variant. The first samples are in production at a plant in Mainz. According to Biontech and its US partner Pfizer, the clinical trials could begin in August.
Shortly after the statement by Pfizer and Biontech, a statement from the FDA and the CDC circulated by US media on Thursday said that Americans who were fully vaccinated do not currently need a booster vaccination. But be prepared for the administration of booster doses if scientific evidence shows that they are necessary. US health officials looked into the question, but did not rely solely on data from pharmaceutical companies.
