Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, submitted an application to the FDA seeking emergency authorization for a second booster shot of their COVID-19 vaccine for people 65 and older, the company said March 15.
The company used two real-world data sets from Israel, both of which showed evidence that an additional booster increases immunogenicity and lowers rates of confirmed infections and severe illness, according to the release.
Pfizer also said "emerging evidence" suggests effectiveness against both symptomatic COVID-19 and severe infection wanes three to six months after initial booster dosage.
"These early studies indicate that an additional booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine administered at least four months after an initial booster dose could restore antibody titers to peak post-third dose titer levels, improve protection against both infection and severe disease in individuals 60 years of age and older in Israel, and have a similar safety profile to that of previous doses," the news release said.
Editor's note: This piece was updated March 16 to reflect a news release from Pfizer.