Earlier this year, Pfizer, BioNTech reported growing evidence that people’s immunity to COVID-19 will continually lessen post-vaccination. (Fox 2021) This claim was supported by scientific reports from Israel, that revealed asymptomatic and symptomatic prevention decreased to 64% in June, potentially signalling the need for a third dose. Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla’s comments on a third dose were taped on April 1, 2021. During an event with CVS Health, he stated, “ A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between 6 and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role,” (Lovelace 2021).

Contrarily, numerous international government officials and organizations disagree with Pfizer’s statements. Despite pressure from Pfizer regarding the government approval of their proposed third COVID-19 dose, the FDA and CDC, and European Medicines Agency have stated that there is not enough evidence that people need a booster shot at this time. (Howard 2021)  (Erman and Steenhuysen 2021). Jeff Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator explained that “Virtually all Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths in United States are now occurring among unvaccinated individuals.” (Stieg 2021), and that the essentiality and efficacy of the booster shot- especially as millions still require their first or second vaccinations- be taken into question. Regardless, according to CNN, Pfizer plans to file for the emergency authorization for a booster dose with the FDA in August (Howard 2021).

Some are attempting to receive an mRNA vaccine as a booster shot after receiving AstraZeneca or Johnson-Johnson vaccines first. However, there has been mixed evidence for the safety and efficacy of the mixing. For instance, the CDC and WHO have advised against mixing, while a study from Oxford University suggests that combining the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine with a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is effective for the immune response (Stieg 2021). 

Dr. Jay Butler, deputy director for infectious diseases at the CDC, predicts a higher risk of adverse reactions to the third dose because those who got the second dose had stronger side effects than the first dose. (Stieg 2021) Furthermore, Dr. Andrew T. Pavia, IDSA fellow and chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah School of Medicine predicts that it may also cause a muted immune response (Stieg 2021).

There is still more research to be done upon the efficacy, and essentiality of Pfizer’s third COVID-19 booster shot, especially as it continues to anticipate its approval from government agencies around the world. As of now, results from trials are currently limited, and countries are focused on double-vaccinating their entire population, before considering Pfizer’s third dose. As variants become more prevalent, booster shots for COVID-19 are likely on the horizon.