Experts recently revealed that the efficacy of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines dropped after five months. The reports came after the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) green-lit the vaccine brand’s booster shot.
How Much Does Pfizer’s, Efficacy Drop?
It is worth noting that vaccines create a robust immune response that reduces the risk of severe COVID-19 by more than 90 percent. However, according to CNN, many reports have been about people’s immunity starting to wane months after they finish their second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This is also why Pfizer asked the FDA to approve and authorize the booster shots from the brand for people six months out from vaccination.
CNN talked to Dr. Ann Falsey, a specialist in viral respiratory diseases at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, to know whether booster shots are necessary for everyone. Falsey said that while it is true that the immunity that the COVID-19 vaccines provide will slowly wane over time, it is not a reason for people to panic. CNN quoted Falsey saying, “It’s not like suddenly one day you’re completely susceptible like you were before you were vaccinated. The vaccines stand up pretty well — Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson — for severe disease. Now, that’s not to say that we might not eventually get to a point where we really need people to get boosters to prevent more severe illness. But, really, the majority of the breakthrough infections are colds, maybe flu-like illnesses — not the scary illnesses that we were facing before. So my main message is, don’t panic. You’re going to be okay.”
Many Americans Still Rush To Get Booster Shots
After the FDA authorized Pfizer’s booster shots, many Americans flocked to centers to get the boosters. According to CNN, the past week, more people got their booster shots than those who got their first rounds of COVID-19 vaccines. As of Friday, more than 7 million immunocompromised Americans received their booster shots.
Other Booster Shots Might Be Approved Soon
The FDA is now considering Modern and Johnson & Johnson applications for their booster shots. CNN said that Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccines would most likely be part of the standard regimen for COVID-19. However, just like Falsey, Fauci said people do not need to storm the pharmacies and panic.
The people who can get the booster vaccines now are those who got vaccinated from January to March. They include people who are 65 and older, adults with conditions putting them at risk of severe disease, and those in occupations or living conditions that put them at higher than average risk of infection.
