Federal health officials on Friday downplayed the real-world application of preliminary research in Israel that said one dose of BioNTech SE
BNTX,
and Pfizer Inc.’s
PFE,
COVID-19 vaccine was 85% effective. Their vaccine, which requires two doses spaced several weeks apart, had an efficacy rate of 95% in clinical trials. “Even though you can get a fair degree of ‘protection’ after a single dose, it clearly is not durable,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, told reporters on Friday. “We know that.” He described the research findings as “interesting” but noted that the data was released as a type of medical-journal article called correspondence in The Lancet on Thursday. This type of article is not usually peer reviewed. “We will stick with the scientifically documented efficacy and optimal response of a prime, followed by a boost,” he said.
- Advertisement -