CEO Stéphane Bancel said this week that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna will make a third shot available for its two-dose vaccine by the fall.
The Moderna vaccine is more than 90% effective against the coronavirus six months after the second shot, studies have shown. What remains unclear is how long the immunity against the virus lasts.
The same goes for Pfizer’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
“There is probably a need for a third dose, between six and 12 months. And from there, it will be vaccinated again every year. But it all needs to be confirmed,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on Thursday. said in a virtual way. event hosted by CVS Health.
A third booster shot against the virus is not yet needed, but health experts say it could provide additional immunity to COVID-19 variants starting to spread from Brazil, South Africa and the UK to the US.
“All of them have the suspicion that they can evade the protection provided by the vaccines,” Justin Gill, an urgent care nurse, told CBSN.
There is also a chance that people who are fully vaccinated may still be infected with the virus, as none of the available vaccines offer 100% immunity to COVID-19.
‘We do know that some [who are fully vaccinated] “still getting infected and testing positive for COVID-19, but there are still a lot of unknowns about individuals eventually testing positive,” Gill said.
Such ‘breakthrough’ infections are suspected to be very rare, but they can occur when vaccinated individuals are exposed to variants or a significant viral load.
While drug manufacturers are developing a laparoscopy, individuals who have already received two doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine can be assured that they are well protected against COVID-19.
“Ultimately, it still offers great protection,” Gill said. “But we know that some will still get the COVID-19 virus, and it is imperative that they continue to follow public health guidelines, wear a mask, and remain vigilant when they are with other individuals.”
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, vaccine trust among people in the U.S. has increased as more Americans see their friends and family members vaccinated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 38% of the U.S. population has so far received at least one dose of the vaccine and 24% have been vaccinated.