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 While the duration of immunity after vaccination is being studied,
booster vaccines could be needed, David Kessler, chief science
officer for President Joe Biden's COVID-19 response task force told
a congressional committee meeting.
"The current thinking is those who are more vulnerable will have to
go first," he said.
Meanwhile, Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Albert Bourla said people will
'likely' need a third booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines within 12
months and could need annual shots, CNBC reported based on his
comments from April 1, which were made public on Thursday. (https://cnb.cx/2Q4MXS1)
Initial data has shown that vaccines from Moderna Inc and partners
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE retain most of their effectiveness for at
least six months, though for how much longer has not been
determined.
Even if that protection lasts far longer than six months, experts
have said that rapidly spreading variants of the coronavirus and
others that may emerge could lead to the need for regular booster
shots similar to annual flu shots.
The United States is also tracking infections in people who have
been fully vaccinated, Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S.
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention told the House
subcommittee hearing.
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 Of 77 million people vaccinated
in the United States, there have been 5,800 such
breakthrough infections, Walensky said,
including 396 people who required
hospitalization and 74 who died.
Walensky said some of these infections have
occurred because the vaccinated person did not
mount a strong immune response. But the concern
is that in some cases, they are occurring in
people infected by more contagious virus
variants.
Earlier this month, Pfizer and partner BioNTech
said their vaccine was around 91% effective in
preventing COVID-19, citing updated trial data
that included more than 12,000 people fully
inoculated for at least six months.
(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru and
Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago, additional
reporting by Mrinalika Roy; Editing by Bill
Berkrot and Arun Koyyur)
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