Pfizer CEO Says Fourth Shot may Soon Be Needed To Combat Omicron

After Pfizer released data from a study that shows that the new Omicron variant, which is highly mutated, can lessen the effectiveness of the vaccine the pharmaceutical company created with BioNTech, Anthony Bourla, Pfizer’s CEO, said that people might need a fourth shot sooner than expected.

Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration just authorized, for 16 and 17-year-olds, Pfizer’s boosters, which Bourla said yesterday can increase antibody protection 25 times what the initial two-doses can provide.

Just as the effectiveness of the two-shot vaccination series dropped significantly when faced with Omicron, however, results from an initial lab study done at Pfizer has scientists worrying that the new virus will eventually reduce the antibodies created by the third shot, as well.

Pfizer’s preliminary study was based on a synthetic, lab-based copy of the variant.

Scientists need data from tests that show how vaccines perform against the actual virus to gather more meaningful information, Bourla told CNBC.

With Omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information,” Bourla said. “We may need it faster.”

“When we see real-world data, that will determine whether the Omicron is well-covered by the third dose and how long,” said the Pfizer CEO, adding, “I think we will need a fourth dose.”

Bourla has previously said that he thought that a fourth shot would be needed 12 months after vaccine recipients received their third doses, which as colder weather and holiday gatherings increase, the Pfizer CEO said must continue to be provided nationwide.

As people socialize more indoors, public health officials are worried about a spike in COVID infections.

“A third dose will give very good protection I believe,” said Bourla.

Right now, three vaccines can fight Omicron as effectively as two vaccines were able to fight COVID’s original strain, but for how long, no one is yet sure. 

Photo: Flickr