Pfizer and BioNTech have announced the results of a Phase 3 study on the effectiveness of a booster dose of their vaccine. In the course of a large-scale study, in which more than 10 thousand people took part, it turned out that the third dose of the vaccine restored the level of immunity to coronavirus infection to the values observed after two injections. In general, the effectiveness of the booster dose was 95.6%.
As noted in the statement of the American and German developers, among those study participants who received a placebo, 109 cases of COVID-19 with pronounced symptoms were recorded. Among those who received the third dose of the vaccine, there are only five such cases. The companies note that the administration of the vaccine was easily tolerated and was generally in line with what was already known about the drug. At the same time, as noted in the statement, the study was conducted at a time when the delta strain of coronavirus was prevalent in the world, which may serve as proof that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is as effective against it as against the original strains.
The booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved in September in the United States to vaccinate people over the age of 65 and those at particular risk for chronic illness. Now the companies intend to submit data on clinical trials to regulators in the United States and Europe for permission to use it for vaccination of all categories of citizens.
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