On Tuesday, Pfizer / BioNTech asked the US authorities for approval of a second booster dose of vaccine for Americans over 65 years of age.
The vaccine manufacturer writes in a press release that a fourth vaccine dose will benefit people in the oldest age group, and it will be able to reduce the risk of infection and coronary heart disease.
Reduced risk of infection and serious illness
The background for the application is two studies performed in Israel.
– Both studies show that an extra mRNA booster dose will increase immunity and lower the rate of infection and serious illness, the companies write in the press releases.
The studies, which so far have not been peer-reviewed and published, showed that the number of confirmed cases of infection was halved, while the risk of severe coronary heart disease was reduced by 75 percent.
Before older Americans can possibly get a fourth dose, the application must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration FDA and the CDC, according to AP.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on Sunday in CBS ‘Face the Nation why he thinks a fourth dose may be needed.
– The protection you get from the third dose is actually quite good against hospitalizations and death. But it is not as good against disease, Bourla said.
May be relevant in Norway
At the end of January, the National Institute of Public Health recommended people with severely weakened immune systems to take a fourth vaccine dose.
Before a fourth dose can be offered to more people in Norway, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Norwegian Medicines Agency must approve it.
It is continuously assessed whether the offer should be given to more people, according to the assistant director of the National Institute of Public Health, Geir Bukholm.
In an e-mail to TV 2, he writes that people who have received three vaccine doses, currently have clear protection against serious illness, but that this will probably be somewhat weakened.
Therefore, a fourth dose of vaccine may be appropriate for some.
– It may be relevant to recommend a second refresher dose to the elderly and medical risk groups before the winter season 2022/23, but it may also be relevant earlier, Bukholm writes.
– CAN BE CURRENT: Assistant director Geir Bukholm in FHI, says that a fourth dose may be recommended to some groups. Photo: Magnus Kaslegard / TV 2
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– This will depend on when we see signs of declining protection against serious disease, the infection situation in society and how the virus develops, he adds and points out that new virus variants may appear.
According to Bukholm, a second booster dose will first and foremost increase protection against serious illness, and only have a short-term effect on the spread of infection.
– Will provide better protection
– At some point, it will be necessary to offer the oldest a fourth dose in Norway, says immunologist and professor at the University of Oslo, Anne Spurkland.
However, she is not sure if an extra booster dose should be offered now or at a later occasion.
– It may be better for the oldest age group to wait until we approach a new peak of infection, which will probably come in the autumn, says Spurkland.
The immunologist points out that the spread of infection and the number of seriously ill people in Israel decreased in the oldest age group, after the country started offering the fourth dose of vaccine to health professionals and people over 60 in January.
– – NECESSARY: Immunologist Anne Spurkland believes that a fourth dose will sooner or later be necessary for older people. Photo: Bjørn Roger Brevik / TV 2
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– A fourth dose will remind the immune system to make more antibodies, which in turn will provide better protection, says Spurkland.
The immunologist points out that a weakness of the study is that the observation time is short.
– It is not very comprehensive, but it provides support that it can be useful for older people to get a fourth dose, says Spurkland.
She does not believe that a possible fourth dose will be necessary for younger age groups in Norway.
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