Things always come in three? As France was experiencing an improvement in the coronavirus epidemic, the threat of variants is likely to be a gamechanger again. After the Alpha variant, it is now turn for the Delta variant to join in. 60% more transmissible than the UK strain, this mutant casts the shadow of a fourth wave: it has already originated an epidemic resurgence in several European countries. And it is even about to become the dominating strain in France.
So, to curb the threat, massive vaccination is at the very heart of preoccupations. But is it possible to boost the efficacy of vaccines against these mutants? In a release published this Thursday July 8, 2021, Pfizer-BioNTech shared their observations on a study focusing on the effects of a third dose injected six months after the second shot. According to primary data, this booster shot enables the vaccine to be five to ten times more effective against the virus and its Beta variant (from South Africa) than the protection provided by the first two injections.
As for the Delta variant, Pfizer-BioNTech confirms their vaccine gets good results against this variant and a third injection could even reinforce this protection. A study is also being carried out to confirm this hypothesis. Therefore, both companies will seek approval to the European Medicines Agency to allow a third dose to be given in the six months following the second shot.
