Pfizer and Biontech will seek approval to offer a third dose of the vaccine. The companies will also produce their own vaccine targeting the delta variant.
The companies believe that a third dose of the vaccine is likely to significantly increase immunity, also against the delta variant.
Two drug companies also announced on Thursday that they had begun developing a version of the vaccine specifically targeting the delta variant. The variant is more contagious and has spread to almost 100 countries.
They expect to be able to begin clinical trials of the vaccine in August, he writes New York Times .
Refers to Israel
Most vaccines must be given in two doses to ensure good safety against all variants of the virus, not just the delta variant. However, antibodies in the body decline over time, so scientists began investigating the effects of a possible third dose, the so-called "booster" dose.
The companies are referring to a situation in Israel where protection against the virus in many people has decreased six months after vaccination. At the same time, the delta variant dominates the country, the statement said.
The companies' preliminary research results show that people produce five to ten times more antibodies after the third dose compared to the second.
Pharmaceutical companies recommend that the dose be administered within twelve months of the first two. In the coming weeks, they will seek approval from authorities in the US, Europe and other regions.
. Skepticism at the CDC
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still investigating, and it is uncertain whether the third dose is appropriate. "Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not currently need an additional dose," the statement said.
