COVID-19: Pfizer pushes for third shot as variant drives global outbreaks

Pfizer and BioNTech announced they would seek authorisation for a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine to boost its efficacy, as the Delta variant drove devastating outbreaks in Asia and Africa and cases rose again in Europe and the United States.

Delta is the most infectious strain of the virus since the start of the global pandemic early last year.

Originally detected in India, it has quickly spread and is accelerating outbreaks even in countries with high vaccination rates, leading the World Health Organization to warn this week that the world was at a “perilous point” as the official global death toll passed four million.

Pfizer and BioNTech said they expected that a third dose will perform well against the strain and that they would be seeking authorization in the United States, Europe, and other regions in the coming weeks.

Initial data from an ongoing trial showed a third shot pushed antibody levels five to 10 times higher against the original coronavirus strain and the Beta variant, first found in South Africa, compared with the first two doses alone, according to a statement.

The companies said they expected similar results for Delta — but added they were also developing a vaccine specifically tailored to fight the deadly strain.

Source: AFP

In other news – Fear for AKA’s life as well-known SA rapper threatens to kill him

Mzansi hip-hop star AKA can never seem to catch a break even when he is mourning the love of his life, Anele Tembe. It’s no secret that the Supa Mega had people he was beefing within the industry and that did not change after he lost Anele in the most tragic way.

The people he beefed with did not utter a word about the passing, at least not on public platforms, which is commendable but we cannot say the same about Ifani. Learn More