Pfizer CEO Says We Might Need To Have A Fourth Dose Of The Vaccine Soon

The boss of pharmaceutical company Pfizer reckons we might soon have to have a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Albert Bourla said the threat of the Omicron variant proves how the virus is continuing to mutate and a second booster shot could be the silver bullet that stops people from getting sick.

While initial studies show this new strain isn't as deadly as others, the Pfizer CEO believes its mere presence means we have to remain vigilant.

"When we see real-world data, [we] will determine if the Omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long," Bourla said during an interview on CNBC.

"And the second point, I think we will need a fourth dose."

While Omicron might not be deadlier than variants like Delta, a recent investigation has found that two Pfizer vaccine jabs were less effective against Omicron.

Scientists created a version of Omicron in the lab and tested how Pfizer stacked up against it, according to The Independent.

The study revealed that a third booster shot would bring a person's protection against Omicron up to the level they would have against other variants, which is great, just great.

The preliminary data released from the World Health Organization so far has revealed that Omicron isn't 'more severe' than other variants.

WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said: "In fact, if anything, the direction is towards less severity."

However, America's top epidemiologist Anthony Fauci believes it's 'clearly highly transmissible' and could be passed on easier than strains like Delta.

Speaking to AFP, Fauci said: "It almost certainly is not more severe than Delta.

"There is some suggestion that it might even be less severe, because when you look at some of the cohorts that are being followed in South Africa, the ratio between the number of infections and the number of hospitalisations seems to be less than with Delta.

"I think that's going to take another couple of weeks at least in South Africa.

"As we get more infections throughout the rest of the world, it might take longer to see what's the level of severity.

"The worst case scenario is that it is not only highly transmissible, but it also causes severe disease and then you have another wave of infections that are not necessarily blunted by the vaccine or by people's prior infections.

"I don't think that worst case scenario is going to come about, but you never know."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Omicron, News, Coronavirus

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie