Faced with variants, the founder of BioNtech for a 3rd dose rather than a new vaccine

Ugur Sahin, co-founder of German company BioNTech, in Marburg, Germany, September 17, 2020 © Fabian Bimmer / REUTERS

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Fears related to the development of the more formidable variants of the coronavirus are increasing.

Do currently available vaccines provide sufficient protection and how long are they effective?

Faced with these questions, the founder of the company BioNTech wanted to be reassuring Monday, August 9 during a press conference in Berlin. 

Publicity

Read more

With our correspondent in Berlin,

Pascal Thibaut

"The vaccine does not yet need to be adapted to the new variants of the coronavirus in circulation," recommended the founder of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin, Monday at a press conference in Berlin a third dose to strengthen the protection of vaccinated people.

According to him, it is possible that a variant will emerge in the coming months and require an adaptation of the product, but this is not yet the case for Uğur Şahin.

"

 We see for now that a booster with the base formula is quite sufficient,

 " added the scientist. 

WHO not yet ready to accept a 3rd dose

Pfizer and BioNTech, which together produce and market the vaccine, reported encouraging results in early July and plan to seek authorization for a third dose of their product in the United States and Europe.

Both the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization (WHO) have yet to be convinced.

They believe that the available data are currently insufficient to authorize a third dose. 

The boss of BioNTech presented the results of his company which exploded.

The turnover in the second quarter was more than five billion euros against 40 million for the same period of 2020. The losses are a thing of the past. 

►Also read: Covid-19: Emmanuel Macron confirms a 3rd dose of vaccine "for the oldest and most vulnerable"

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Germany

  • Health and medicine

  • Vaccines

  • Coronavirus