Pfizer to develop Covid booster shot to target highly infectious Delta variant

Washington: Pfizer and BioNTech on Thursday announced that they are developing a Covid-19 booster shot intended to target the delta variant as concerns rise about the highly transmissible strain that is already the dominant form of the disease in the United States.

As per the Xinhua news agency, concerns continue to rise as the Delta strain has already become the dominant variant in the US, causing increasing infections.

The drug maker's top scientist also said that the company plans to ask U.S. regulators to authorize a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine within the next month, based on evidence of greater risk of reinfection six months after inoculation and the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in a joint statement said that Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster COVID-19 shot at this time.

Meanwhile, a report by CNBC suggests that the two companies said they believe the third shot of their current two-dose vaccine has the potential to preserve the "highest levels" of protection against all currently known variants, including Delta, but they are "remaining vigilant" and developing an updated version of the vaccine.

"These findings are consistent with an ongoing analysis from the companies' Phase 3 study," the companies said in a statement issued on Thursday.

"That is why we have said, and we continue to believe that it is likely, based on the totality of the data we have to date, that a third dose may be needed within six to 12 months after full vaccination."

Clinical studies could begin as early as August, subject to regulatory approvals, the companies said.

Executives from Pfizer and BioNTech have said people will likely need a booster shot, or third dose, within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated because they expect vaccine-induced immunity to wane over time.