A third dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech COVID vaccine is 95.6% effective against symptomatic forms of the disease, according to a study by the two laboratories and published Thursday.
The phase 3 clinical trial, conducted in “10,000 people over 16 years old“, shows “a relative efficiency of 95.6%” and “a favorable safety profile”, According to a statement.
“These are the first results of the efficacy of a randomized trial for a COVID-19 vaccine booster″ Said both companies.
This study was carried out while “the Delta variant was the main strain” circulating during this period.
“These results demonstrate once again the usefulness of boosters in our effort to protect the population against this disease.”Said Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, quoted in the note.
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The average age of the participants is around 53 years old.
These results will be presented to the regulatory authorities “as soon as possible”Added the statement.
In the United States, experts from the United States Drug Administration (FDA) have been recommending a third dose of Pfizer / BioNTech since the end of September for certain categories of people at risk, such as those over 65 years of age.
“Available data suggest decreased immunity in some fully vaccinated sectors of the population”Justified the acting chief of the FDA, Janet Woodcock recently.
In Europe, the Medicines Agency (EMA) approved in early October a third dose of Pfizer / BioNTech for people over 18 years of age, leaving the Member States themselves to choose more precisely which segments will be inoculated.
For example, France has started giving this booster dose to certain categories of the population: those older than 65 years (six months after vaccination) and people with weakened immune systems.
Other governments have gone further: in Israel, the third dose is available starting at age 12, five months after vaccination.
However, the issue of the third dose has fueled the problem of inequalities between rich and poor countries, while access to the first dose of vaccine remains very limited in certain regions of the world, particularly in Africa, especially since two Doses also very effectively protect against severe forms of the disease.
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