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Pfizer-BioNTech has announced that it has formally requested the US Drug Regulatory Authority to urgently approve the second booster of the COVID vaccine for people over 65 years of age. A press release said their request was based on two Israeli studies, which showed that “the additional mRNA booster increases immunogenicity and reduces the incidence of confirmed infections and serious illnesses,” BGNES reported.
Morbidity rates in most countries have dropped significantly from record levels during the Omicron wave, although in many countries there is a plateau or rising levels because after the restrictions are lifted and protection from previous doses begins to weaken.
The first Israeli study, cited by Pfizer-BioNTech, showed that “the rate of confirmed infections is 2 times lower and the rate of severe disease is 4 times lower among those who received an additional booster dose” than those who received only one.
The second study, an analysis of Israeli health workers aged 18 and over, found that antibody levels in people who received a second booster were significantly higher than those who did not.
“The study also found no new safety issues in people who received an extra booster dose of the vaccine,” the companies said.
Because the original Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine schedule is two doses, the second booster dose would be the fourth for most people.
Several European countries, as well as Israel, have already approved a second booster for older and immunocompromised groups.
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