Pfizer CEO says a fourth booster shot 'is necessary'
By Joseph Choi - 03/13/22 01:26 PM EDT
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on Sunday that a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be necessary to continue to help keep hospitalizations manageable and sicknesses more mild.
"Right now, the way that we have seen, it is necessary, a fourth booster right now. The protection that you are getting from the third, it is good enough, actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths," Bourla said while appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation."
"It's not that good against infections, but doesn't last very long. But we are just submitting those data to the FDA and then we will see what the experts also will say outside Pfizer," he added.
In August, the Food and Drug Administration fully approved Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for people at least 16-years-old or older. A third dose of Pfizer's vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization.
Bourla told CNBC on Saturday of his company's plans of submitting data for a fourth COVID-19 dose.
"It’s clear that there is a need in an environment of omicron to boost the immune response,” he said while appearing on CNBC's "Squawk Box.”
Countries including Israel, Chile and Germany have already begun recommending fourth COVID-19 doses for high-risk groups.
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https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/598026-pfizer-ceo-says-a-fourth-booster-shot-is-necessary