Pfizer, Moderna Testing Booster Shots to Fight New Covid-19 Variants

Pfizer and Moderna are now testing the effects of additional booster shots on already vaccinated individuals. Their efforts are being made in an attempt to stave off the more transmissible or deadly variants of the coronavirus that continue to cause issues worldwide. This includes a brand new mutation that was just discovered out of New York City and it appears to impact even those who are immunized or receiving the authorized monoclonal antibody treatments. As concern grows over the increasing rate of infection, coronavirus vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna are coming up with new strategies. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are testing how a third dose of their vaccine, given six to 12 months after their second dose, may protect against the variants. Meanwhile, Moderna is working on an updated version of its current vaccine. This shot is meant to act as a booster in already inoculated patients or a primary for those who are not vaccinated and have not gotten sick from Covid before. They have also begun conducting initial studies on a select few participants.