FRANKFURT, Oct 21, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - A booster shot of the anti-Covid-19
vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech is 95.6 percent effective against
symptomatic infection, according to trial data published by the makers on
Thursday.

   The clinical phase three trial with "10,000 participants 16 years of age
and older" showed "a relative vaccine efficacy of 95.6 percent against
disease during a period when Delta was the prevalent strain", the companies
said in a statement.

   The study presented the "first results" of a booster trial, with a third
shot of the vaccine demonstrating a "favourable safety profile".

   "These results provide further evidence of the benefits of boosters as we
aim to keep people well-protected against this disease," said Pfizer CEO
Albert Bourla.

   The preliminary results would be shared with regulatory agencies "as soon
as possible", the companies said in the statement.

   Several countries have already approved Covid-19 booster shots to increase
immunity in people who have already been vaccinated, but whose protection may
have dipped after several months, per some studies.

   In the United States, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved a third dose in September for everyone aged 65 and up, as well as
people at high risk of developing severe Covid.

   The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved a booster for over-18s at the
beginning of October, allowing national regulators to decide which groups
should be eligible first.

   In Israel, authorities have gone further, approving booster shots for
everyone aged 12 and over.