Scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have stated that booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may not be required, despite the fact that the third dose evokes a higher immune response.

The FDA staff stated in a document, which was prepared for external advisors, that it remains to be proven that the efficacy of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is declining. The document stated that while some of the observational studies have indicated that the vaccine’s efficacy declines over time against symptomatic infection or against the Delta variant, certain other studies have not suggested the same. The experts were of the opinion that licensure for the booster shots should also consider the potential to prevent hospitalization and death, besides the dynamics of the pandemic in the U.S… (Reuters, September 16, 2021)