Prognosis
Covid Booster Shots Can Wait Even as Variants Spread, Scientists Say
- Immune system response, real-world data, new variants crucial
- Physicians push back on Pfizer plan for booster as premature
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Most vaccinated Americans are unlikely to need Covid-19 booster shots for months, or even years, despite the rise of highly infectious variants and the continued spread of the virus, according to top scientists.
Pfizer Inc. has been touting a plan to apply for clearance this summer for a third shot of its messenger RNA vaccine. But vaccine experts and health officials in both the U.S. and Europe say that while a booster may eventually be needed, existing shots remain highly effective in preventing severe disease, including against all known variants.