Pfizer, BioNTech in discussions with regulators about testing an adapted version of their vaccine<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/b><\/p>\n
THURSDAY, Feb. 25, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Pfizer and BioNTech say they plan to update their original COVID-19 vaccine and also test a third booster shot to prepare for the possibility that new coronavirus variants may be more resistant to the vaccine.<\/p>\n
“We are taking multiple steps to act decisively and be ready in case a strain becomes resistant to the protection afforded by the vaccine,” Albert Bourla, M.D., the chief executive of Pfizer, said in a statement, The New York Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n Laboratory tests have shown that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is less effective against a variant first identified in South Africa, known as B.1.351, but there is no clinical trial evidence suggesting that the vaccine does not offer strong protection.<\/p>\n Pfizer and BioNTech are in discussions with regulators about testing an adapted version of the vaccine that would protect against the B.1.351 variant and will conduct a study on whether a third shot given about six to 12 months after the initial two-dose regimen provides extra protection, The Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n The same technology used to create the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was used by Moderna to develop its COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna said Wednesday that doses of a newly adjusted vaccine meant to deal with the B.1.351 variant have been sent to the U.S. National Institutes of Health for testing, The Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n