Staff Writer
While Pfizer/BioNTech bosses have once again said there would be a need for a fourth dose, Namibia’s figures doubled from 554 reported on 9 December to 1 041 for 10 December.
For the first time in as many months, Namibia also recorded two Covid-19 related home deaths from Katima Mulilo, involving a woman aged 89 and another aged 103 years who died on 8 December 2021. Both women were not vaccinated.
At the same time, the number of those who received double doses has increased to 435 in 10 days, while that of those who received one dose stands at 176.
In just three days since the health started reporting on the numbers of the infected, there have been 208 cases.
On Thursday, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said there might be a need for a fourth vaccine dose to combat the Omicron variant.
Talking to the Business Insider, Bourla said that a fourth dose of the drugmaker’s coronavirus vaccine might be needed amid growing concern about the Omicron variant.
The Talk about a fourth dose came a day after Bourla had said that he believed that the third dose of their vaccine could tame the Omicron variant.
“I think when we see real-world data [we’ll] determine if the third dose well covers the Omicron and for how long,” Bourla said.
Bourla added, “I think we will need the fourth dose. I’ve said that multiple times.”
The CEO explained that he previously projected a fourth vaccine dose would be needed 12 months after a third shot but that that timeline might need to be moved up.
“With Omicron, we need to wait and see because we have very little information. We may need it faster,” Bourla said.
For now, Bourla said he believes “a third dose will give very good protection” during the winter months.
On Wednesday, Pfizer posted a statement on their website in which the company said that preliminary laboratory studies demonstrate that three doses of their Covid-19 Vaccine neutralize the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 lineage) while two doses show significantly reduced neutralization titers.
Bourla said, in the statement, that three doses of their vaccine will help fight Omicron.
“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine,” said Bourla.
He added: “Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two-dose series, and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
BioNTech co-founder and managing director Ugur Sahin said: “Our preliminary, first dataset indicates that a third dose could still offer a sufficient level of protection from the disease of any severity caused by the Omicron variant.”
Sahin also said broad vaccination and booster campaigns worldwide could help us protect people better everywhere and get through the winter season.
“We continue to work on an adapted vaccine which, we believe, will help to induce a high level of protection against Omicron-induced COVID-19 disease as well as a prolonged protection compared to the current vaccine,” Sahin said.
The company also said the data indicate that a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech increases the neutralizing antibody titers by 25-fold compared to two doses against the Omicron variant.
However, the company said two doses may still protect against severe disease because other aspects of the immune system are less affected by the mutations found in Omicron.
In addition, the studies showed that a third dose of the vaccine provided a similar level of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron as two doses did against the original strain of the coronavirus and other variants.
The initial report from the U.K. indicated that half of the people who tested positive for Covid-19 had been fully vaccinated.
Other reports from the U.S. also show that the first case of Omicron involved a fully vaccinated person.
A statement posted on their website on Wednesday by Pfizer/BioNTech says that preliminary laboratory studies demonstrate that three doses of their Covid-19 Vaccine neutralize the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 lineage) while two doses show significantly reduced neutralization titers.
The Pfizer/BioNTech CEO Albert Bourla said, in the statement, that three doses of their vaccine will help fight Omicron.
“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine,” said Bourla.
He added: “Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two-dose series, and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
BioNTech co-founder and managing director Ugur Sahin said: “Our preliminary, first dataset indicates that a third dose could still offer a sufficient level of protection from the disease of any severity caused by the Omicron variant.”
Sahin also said broad vaccination and booster campaigns worldwide could help us protect people better everywhere and get through the winter season.
“We continue to work on an adapted vaccine which, we believe, will help to induce a high level of protection against Omicron-induced COVID-19 disease as well as a prolonged protection compared to the current vaccine,” Sahin said.
The company also said the data indicate that a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech increases the neutralizing antibody titers by 25-fold compared to two doses against the Omicron variant.
However, the company said two doses may still protect against severe disease because other aspects of the immune system are less affected by the mutations found in Omicron.
In addition, the studies showed that a third dose of the vaccine provided a similar level of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron as two doses did against the original strain of the coronavirus and other variants.
