Pfizer and BioNTech studying third COVID-19 vaccine dose to fight new strains

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are now studying if a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine could provide added immunity against new coronavirus variants, including the South African one. The companies say researchers are offering a third vaccine dose to up to 144 people who participated in an early-stage study last year and were vaccinated 6 months to a year ago. Pfizer and BioNTech also say they are in talks with U.S., European, and other health regulators elsewhere about studying a revised version of their vaccine intended to protect against the variant found in South Africa. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said, “We are taking multiple steps to act decisively and be ready in case a strain becomes resistant to the protection afforded by the vaccine.” Meanwhile, FDA said this week it would evaluate any vaccine booster doses targeting variants quickly and would not require large efficacy trials for authorization. Pfizer and BioNTech did not disclose when they might have results from the study, but during an earnings conference call earlier in February, Pfizer R&D chief Mikael Dolsten said results of such a study could come around early summer.