BioNTech’s chief medical officer told CNBC on Wednesday that people will likely need a third injection of the Covid-19 vaccine with two doses because immunity to the virus is waning, in line with previous comments made by Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
Dr. Ozlem Tureci, the co-founder and CMO of BioNTech, which co-developed a Covid vaccine with Pfizer, said she also expects people to be vaccinated annually against the coronavirus, such as for the seasonal flu. That’s because, she said, scientists expect vaccination-induced immunity to the virus to wane over time.
“We see evidence for this in the induced as well as the natural immune response to SARS-COV-2,” she said during an interview with CNBC’s Kelly Evans on “The Exchange.” “We see this decrease in immune responses also in people who have just been infected and so [it’s] also expected with the vaccines. “
Tureci’s comments come after Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in an April 15 interview that people are likely to need a booster shot or third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of being fully vaccinated. He also said people may need additional shots every year.
Pfizer said earlier this month that up to six months after the second dose, the Covid-19 vaccine was more than 91% effective against the virus and more than 95% against serious illness. Moderna’s vaccine, which uses technology similar to Pfizer’s, was found to remain very effective even after six months.
Researchers say they still don’t know how long protection against the virus will last after six months of being fully vaccinated, although public health officials and health experts expect protection to diminish over time.
Should Americans need booster shots, the US government would likely need to make arrangements with drug manufacturers to provide additional doses and plan for vaccine distribution.
On Friday, Andy Slavitt, senior adviser to President Joe Biden’s Covid response team, said the Biden administration is preparing for the potential need for Covid-19 vaccine booster shots. He said the administration has been reflecting on the need to secure additional doses.
“I can assure you that when we make our planning, when the president orders the purchase of additional vaccines as he has, and when we focus on all of the production expansion opportunities that we are talking about here, we very much like those scenarios. have in mind, ”he said.
Last week, David Kessler, the chief science officer for the Biden administration, said Americans should expect to receive booster shots to protect against coronavirus variants. He told US lawmakers that currently approved vaccines are highly protective, but noted that new variants could “challenge” the effectiveness of the injections.
“We don’t know everything at the moment,” he told the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
“We are studying the durability of the antibody response,” he said. “It seems strong, but that’s declining a bit, and no doubt the variants are challenging … they make these vaccines work harder. So I think for planning purposes, just planning purposes, we should expect that maybe we should do that. boost. “
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC last week that the company hopes to get a booster shot for its two-dose vaccine that will be available in the fall.