Pfizer Begins Clinical Trials for COVID-19 Booster Shot

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Pfizer has begun clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

On the 24th (local time), Pfizer announced that it started a clinical trial involving 600 people aged 65 and older, who will receive the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine candidate '20vPnC' simultaneously. The pneumococcal vaccine is explained to help prevent diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria, such as pneumonia.

All participants are elderly individuals who completed their second dose at least six months ago. They are randomly divided into three groups for the clinical trial. One group receives both the pneumococcal vaccine candidate and the third COVID-19 booster shot, while the other two groups receive either the pneumococcal vaccine candidate or the third booster shot along with a placebo.

Pfizer explained, "This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety of administering the two vaccines simultaneously and to examine the immune responses induced by each vaccine when an additional vaccine is given."

Initially, COVID-19 vaccines were recommended not to be administered together with other vaccines. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently stated that it is acceptable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines on the same day.