![]() Because the mRNA technology on which the original vaccine was built only requires the right genetic sequence to build a new version, Dolsten says developing a new vaccine targeting the South African variant only took six to eight weeks. In the event that the additional dose does not enhance people’s protection, Dolsten says Pfizer has also developed a new vaccine targeting the South African variant, which has shown the most resistance to vaccine-induced immunity so far. Pfizer-BioNTech plans to vaccinate 144 people who were enrolled in the companies’ early phase studies, who received their second dose between six and 12 months ago. We expect that the antibody levels may rise against current variants to strengthen protection.” We are going to give people who were part of our Phase 1-2 study from last summer a boost with another dose of the current vaccine. That made us think about generating data on a third boost. “But we always want to be one step ahead of the virus. “So far we haven’t heard any reports of breakthrough cases related to any of the new variants,” says Mikael Dolsten, chief scientific officer at Pfizer, referring to serious infections with the variant viruses among vaccinated people. Pfizer-BioNTech hasn’t yet completed the same level of rigorous testing against the Brazilian variant (referred to as P1). However, the researchers found that the level of antibodies produced by the original vaccine were lower against the South African variant (referred to as B.1.351). variant (referred to as B.1.1.7), levels of antibodies produced by the vaccine regimen, an important immune defense against the virus, were similar to levels against the original, non-mutated virus. Pfizer-BioNTech have already done studies testing blood serum from people vaccinated with their original shot against some of these variants, and found that the immune response triggered by the two doses is still quite protective. But as new (and more infectious) genetic variants of the COVID-19 virus start circulating-so far, scientists have identified three major strains, first found in the U.K., South Africa, and Brazil, respectively-questions about how well authorized vaccines can still thwart the virus have become more urgent. ![]() The vaccine is currently authorized in several countries in a two-dose regimen, given 21 days apart, and has proven in studies to be about 95% effective in protecting against COVID-19 disease. Pfizer-BioNTech has begun testing a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine in a small group of people. ![]()
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