Pfizer’s CEO said on Thursday that people will likely need a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine within a year of vaccination – as a top American scientist warned that immunity to the shots appears to eventually wane.
It is “likely” that a booster will be required within 12 months of the two-dose regimen, said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
“It’s extremely important to suppress the pool of people susceptible to the virus,” Bourla told CNBC.
He said people may need a COVID-19 shot every year.
Earlier in the day, Dr. David Kessler, the chief science officer of President Biden’s coronavirus response team, told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that research shows that vaccine immunity levels appear to decline over time.
“We don’t know everything right now,” he testified.
“We study the durability of the antibody response. It seems strong, but that is diminishing a bit and undoubtedly the variants [are a] challenge … They make these vaccines work harder. “
But Kessler said Americans can expect to receive a booster down the line.
“I think we should expect to maybe boost, and probably boost again,” said Kessler.
“Not a decision, but the current thinking is that those who are more vulnerable may have to go first,” he added.
“But I think [as] you have with a lot of vaccines, we understand that [at] at some point we have to give a boost, be it nine months or twelve months. We are preparing for that. “
