A 4th dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will be needed, Pfizer's CEO says

fingers crossed but in many parts of the world, the pandemic feels as though it is beginning to wind down. That doesn't mean by any stretch of the imagination. However, that the last two years haven't been absolute turmoil for many and now. A new study published in The Lancet indicates that previous numbers regarding covid deaths could be wildly underestimated. Insider reports that official totals have put the covid death toll at around six million people worldwide. However, this new study says that number is likely more than three times higher, indicating that 18.2 million people have likely died from the virus from the beginning of 2023 2021. The study was conducted by 96 researchers including mortality data from 74 countries and the number rose at least in part because this estimate includes what are called excess deaths or deaths caused tangentially by the virus. That would include those who died as a result of not having access to hospitals during times when they were full of covid patients among others. That would mean that in the US, an additional 1.13 million people died because of covid more than twice the C. D. C. S. Estimate.

To help fend off another wave of COVID-19, people will need a fourth dose of vaccine, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS on Sunday."Many variants are coming, and omicron was the first one that was able to evade — in a skillful way — the immune protection that we're giving," Bourla told CBS."The protection we are getting from the third (dose) it is good enough — actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths," Bourla said.But protection after three doses is "not that good against infections" and "doesn't last very long" when faced with a variant like omicron."It is necessary, a fourth (dose) for right now," Bourla told CBS.Currently, anyone ages 12 and up who got a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months ago can get a third dose.Anyone ages 18 and up who got the two-dose Moderna vaccine should get a booster shot six months after the second dose, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.And anyone who got the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster shot after two months, the CDC said.Some moderately or severely immunocompromised people who have had three doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can already get a fourth dose of vaccine, according to the CDC.But it's not clear if or when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration might authorize a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for healthy teens and adults."We are just submitting those data to the FDA, and then we'll see what the experts also would say outside Pfizer," Bourla told CBS.Kids under 5 might soon be able to get vaccinatedCurrently, children ages 5 to 11 are eligible for two pediatric doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine but are not yet eligible for a booster.And kids under age 5 are not yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine — though that could change this spring, Bourla said.Initial trial data in children ages 2 to 5 showed two doses of a smaller, child-sized vaccine didn't give the expected immunity in the 2- to 5-year-olds — though it did for babies ages 6 months to 2 years.So Pfizer decided to add a third child-sized dose for children under age 5 in its ongoing trial.Pfizer should have data on its three-dose vaccine trial for children ages 6 months to 5 years by April, Bourla told CBS on Sunday.If authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years might start as early as May, Bourla said.A shot at a longer-lasting vaccine against all variantsBourla said Pfizer is also hoping to make a vaccine that will protect against omicron and all other variants of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19.The goal is to create "something that can protect for at least a year," Bourla told CBS on Sunday."And if we are able to achieve that, then I think it is very easy to follow and remember so that we can go back to really the way (we) used to live," he said.

To help fend off another wave of COVID-19, people will need a fourth dose of vaccine, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS on Sunday.

"Many variants are coming, and omicron was the first one that was able to evade — in a skillful way — the immune protection that we're giving," Bourla told CBS.

"The protection we are getting from the third (dose) it is good enough — actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths," Bourla said.

But protection after three doses is "not that good against infections" and "doesn't last very long" when faced with a variant like omicron.

"It is necessary, a fourth (dose) for right now," Bourla told CBS.

Currently, anyone ages 12 and up who got a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months ago can get a third dose.

Anyone ages 18 and up who got the two-dose Moderna vaccine should get a booster shot six months after the second dose, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And anyone who got the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster shot after two months, the CDC said.

Some who have had three doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can already get a fourth dose of vaccine, according to the CDC.

But it's not clear if or when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration might authorize a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for healthy teens and adults.

"We are just submitting those data to the FDA, and then we'll see what the experts also would say outside Pfizer," Bourla told CBS.

Kids under 5 might soon be able to get vaccinated

Currently, children ages 5 to 11 are eligible for two pediatric doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine but are not yet eligible for a booster.

And kids under age 5 are not yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine — though that could change this spring, Bourla said.

Initial trial data in children ages 2 to 5 showed two doses of a smaller, child-sized vaccine didn't give the expected immunity in the 2- to 5-year-olds — though it did for babies ages 6 months to 2 years.

So Pfizer decided to add a third child-sized dose for children under age 5 in its ongoing trial.

Pfizer should have data on its three-dose vaccine trial for children ages 6 months to 5 years by April, Bourla told CBS on Sunday.

If authorized by the FDA and recommended by the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years might start as early as May, Bourla said.

A shot at a longer-lasting vaccine against all variants

Bourla said Pfizer is also hoping to make a vaccine that will protect against omicron and all other variants of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19.

The goal is to create "something that can protect for at least a year," Bourla told CBS on Sunday.

"And if we are able to achieve that, then I think it is very easy to follow and remember so that we can go back to really the way (we) used to live," he said.

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