Pfizer CEO sees annual Covid vaccine rather than frequent boosters

Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Albert Bourla has said that an annual Covid-19 vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Pfizer/BioNtech's Covid-19 vaccine has shown to be effective against severe disease and death caused by the heavily-mutated Omicron variant but less effective in preventing transmission. With cases soaring, some countries have expanded Covid-19 vaccine booster programmes or shortened the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection. In an interview with Israel's N12 News, Bourla was asked whether he sees booster shots being administered every four to five months on a regular basis. "This will not be a good scenario. What I'm hoping (is) that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year," Bourla said. "Once a year—it is easier to convince people to do it. It is easier for people to remember. "So from a public health perspective, it is an ideal situation. We are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesn't forget the other variants and that could be a solution," Bourla said. Bourla has said Pfizer could be ready to file for approval for a redesigned vaccine to fight Omicron, and mass produce it, as soon as March. Citing three studies, the U.

S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that a third dose of an mRNA vaccine is key to fighting Omicron, providing 90% protection against hospitalization.

Former Nepal PM Oli tests positive for Covid Former Nepal Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has tested positive for Covid-19 and is currently in isolation at his residence. “Chairman of our party – CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli has tested positive and is taking rest at his residence,” Bishnu Rijal, Deputy Chief of the party's Central Publicity department tweeted. New Zealand PM cancels her wedding amid curbs New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has cancelled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the Omicron variant, she told reporters on Sunday. New Zealand will impose mask rules and limit gathering from midnight on Sunday. Omicron past its peak in US, deaths continue to rise New coronavirus cases have started to fall nationally, signaling that the omicron-fueled spike that has infected tens of millions of Americans, packed hospitals and shattered records has finally begun to relent. More and more states have passed a peak in new cases in recent days, as glimmers of progress have spread from a handful of eastern cities to much of the country.

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