The Hague (AFP)

The European Union regulator announced Thursday that it would or would not give its approval in early October to a third dose of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine against Covid-19 for the population over 16 years of age.

At the same time, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) must decide on the booster doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the elderly and immunocompromised, EMA vaccine strategy manager Marco Cavaleri told reporters .

Protection against Covid-19 tends to decrease in the months following the first doses, he said.

"The available data shows that the immunity against Covid-19 acquired with the first doses weakens over time, and the protection against the infection and its symptoms wanes in different parts of the world," he continued.

Accordingly, the AEM is in the process of assessing Pfizer's demand for the use of a third dose at least six months after the second for the population over 16 years of age.

"The result of this assessment is expected in early October, unless more information is needed," said Cavaleri.

The head of the AEM also said that "the evidence is becoming more and more tangible" that a third dose should be given shortly after the first to immunocompromised people who "respond poorly" to the initial doses.

The agency will indicate "by early October whether specific recommendations should be included in product information" for Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for these people, he added.

"It is taken into account and recognized that some Member States are already deploying a third dose for this population," said the official.

© 2021 AFP