Reports are that existing vaccines are less effective against new variants of COVID. So, are the companies working on new/different booster or replacement shots? What has be published/reported?
Interesting that the scientists were critical of the announcement when we’re still quite early in the data collection process with some of these variants.
It’s a money grab from Pfizer. They see they’re running out of rich customers - can’t imagine a lot of the less well off countries buying up their $40/dose vaccine - so hey, tell them they need a third shot. Play on fear. As I said somewhere else, I’ll wait for doctors/scientists recommended boosters, not the president of Pfizer.
Oh the whole thing is a money grab - based on what evidence, exactly.
You’re parroting conspiracy theory level nonsense.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 appears to be much more along the lines of flu than along the lines of single vaccine diseases like Small Pox and Polio. There will continue to be mutations, and intermittent booster shots may be needed indefinitely. The good news is that, according to the latest statistics I’ve seen, 99% of the hospitalizations and 100% of the deaths attributed to Delta are among those who are not vaccinated. This is surge is being called, “The pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
What is called a “mild case” with no hospitalization can still be very unpleasant for the person who has it.
Possibly but this recent Pfizer push for a third booster shot has nothing to do with mutations. It’s based on lower antibody levels and higher chance of infection 6 months after vaccination. This kind of ignores long term immunity systems. The vaccines still seem to protect against severe illness that far out.
Not exactly a deep conspiracy, dude. On thin evidence Pfizer says “you gotta buy more Pfizer stuff!”
Pfizer seems to be making two pushes. One for a third dose, which does seem dubious, but also they’re trying to make a version that is more effective on the delta variant:
It is obviously good that they are tweaking their recipe for the new variants. Still billions of people unvaccinated so might as well chase the variants and hopefully get them vaccinated against currently dominant strains.
It is a slow-changing virus. Variations like the Delta variant aren’t because COVID changes like flu does, they are because there is so much COVID out there right now that even stuff like Small Pox and Polio would be changing.
COVID viruses will continue to be a potential problem because there is a large animal reservoir, and because COVID mixes and matches between the different animal COVIDS, but after the pandemic I don’t expect an annual COVID vax containing a mixture of different new COVIDS
This is not necessarily true. Every time you get a vaccine, you don’t simply have a higher level of antibodies. Your body creates a more diverse set of antibodies that are slightly different in structure. Both higher levels and more diversity allows for a more robust immune response against variants. Mixing different vaccine types should also increase diversity of the targets are slightly different. Pfizer was originally simply suggesting boosters to address variants. They’re not sure if creating a new mRNA vaccine is necessary. However, they are now creating a new vaccine just to be hypervigilant.
I’m not sure what part of my post you’re saying is not necessarily true. I broadly agree with things in your post but with the addition that you can get long term immunity from a single shot, depending. A booster isn’t always required for years of immunization.
The part where you say that the booster has nothing to do with variants. A booster stimulates levels and diversity of antibodies. This could cut down on breakthrough infections.
As @BigT mentioned above, there’s two different “Pfizer booster shot” stories going. I was speaking to pfizer’s argument that a small study showed increased infection after 6 months, thereby requiring boosters. Yes, another booster would likely decrease breakthrough infections but the question is whether largely mild breakthrough infections are a good reason to start giving boosters to everyone every 6 months. Maybe the very at risk. Looks like Israel is starting to do something like that.
Eta: I can see I wasn’t very clear about what I was referring to. My excuse is that I was reading an article or two about the Israeli findings that Pfizer mentioned in their press release and forgot this thread wasn’t all about that. Sorry.
I think this discussion is relevant to this thread. I’m aware of the two types of “boosters”. One is simply more of the same and the other is to specifically target a variant. My point was that even more of the same will provide a range and level of different antibodies that will reduce the chances of breakthrough infections by variants in the populace. It’s scientifically sound and not just a money grab by Pfizer.
Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people can be dangerous to at risk people even if both people are vaccinated. At risk vaccinated people may be more likely to have a milder disease than if they were unvaccinated but they are still at risk.
How much experience do we have with over two booster shots? Sure three might produce new and different immune responses, or maybe they mostly all get triggered after two.
The problem seems to be that immunity (in a virology sense, not in a common usage sense) seems to wear off over time.
And again, worth reading if you haven’t: The Pandemic's Biggest Mystery Is Our Own Immune System - The Atlantic
But we already know that Delta is causing significant breakthrough infections unlike previous variants. These are causing mild or no symptoms in most people but can result in significant disease in some. As I stated twice already, a booster of the same will increase the diversity and boost levels of the immune response (T cells, B cells, and antibodies) that will be more effective against future variants and prevent waning immunity for every high risk person, caretakers of high risk people, healthcare workers, and anyone else that wants it.
This is about the only variant loose in a largely vaccinated population.
Yes, I know you said that. Do you have a reference? Because an intial dose of many vaccines undoubtedly activates/creates B cells and T cells. Will a fourth and fifth booster also increase the diversity of the immune response?
I gotta say, many of you are acting like I’m creating wild theories. I’m not. I’m in the scientific mainstream on this. Read the NYT article and you’ll see that rught under the damn title is “scientists criticized the announcement as they say evidence shows the two dose regimen is very effective”