Pfizer CEO says annual Covid vaccine should be preferable

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Pfizer CEO says annual Covid vaccine should be preferable

Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Albert Bourla said that an annual vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots in fighting the coronaviruses.

Pfizer BioNtech's Covid-19 vaccine has shown to be effective against severe disease and death caused by the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, but it is less effective in preventing transmission.

Some countries have expanded Covid 19 vaccine booster programmes or shortened the gap between shots as governments try to shore up protection.

In an interview with Israel's N 12 News, Bourla was asked whether he thinks booster shots are given every four to five months on a regular basis.

This is not a good scenario. Bourla said that he hopes that we will have a vaccine that you will have to do once a year.

It is easier to convince people to do it once a year. It is an ideal situation from a public health perspective. Bourla said that they are looking to see if we can create a vaccine that covers Omicron and doesn't forget the other variants.

Bourla said Pfizer could be ready to file for approval for a redesigned vaccine to fight Omicron, and mass produce it as soon as March.

A third dose of an mRNA vaccine is essential to fighting Omicron, providing 90% protection against hospitalization, according to three studies by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC on Friday.