Third dose, Popoli (Aifa): “Postpone recall of useless risk”

Third dose of covid vaccine? “Postponing the appointment with the booster dose is a bad idea.” This was stated by Patrizia Popoli, director of the National Center for Research and Evaluation of Medicines of the Higher Institute of Health and president of the Technical Scientific Commission of Aifa, in an interview with ‘Corriere della Sera’, regarding the hypothesis of postponing the third dose to wait for the vaccine that Pfizer-BioNTec, according to the announcement of the pharmaceutical company, is preparing specifically against the Omicron variant. “First of all – he observes – I understand that the American company has simply announced that, if necessary, in March it could be ready with a vaccine ‘adapted’ to the Omicron variant, but this only if it turns out that in its current formulation the vaccine does not is quite effective against this variant. At the moment this alleged ineffectiveness has not yet been proven. Indeed, recently Pfizer itself reported that some preliminary data obtained in the laboratory indicate that in subjects who are vaccinated with three doses there would be very good protection even against Omicron “. “The second reason is even more important – he underlines – the variant from which we must protect ourselves now is the Delta, which at the moment is by far the most prevalent in our country. And we know that against the Delta the vaccines currently available are very effective”. “There is no reason to hesitate – he concludes – At the expiry of 5 months from the second dose, do the booster dose, with whatever vaccine is available at the time of booking. Pfizer and Moderna are equally effective, it is not worth doing a longer wait to choose one over the other “.