European regulator approves third dose of Pfizer vaccine for adults

The European regulator on Monday approved the administration of a third dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for those over 18, fearing that protection against Covid-19 may decline after the first injections. Additional doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for people with severely weakened immune systems have also been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), headquartered in Amsterdam.

“Increased antibody levels”

“Booster doses of Comirnaty may be considered for people aged 18 and over, at least six months after the second dose,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said in a statement, referring to the trade name Pfizer vaccine. “Decisions on third doses will be made by public health bodies at the national level,” the EMA said.

The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has “evaluated data for Comirnaty showing an increase in antibody levels when a third dose is given”. “The risk of inflammatory heart disease or other very rare side effects after a booster is not known and is carefully monitored,” the EMA added. Rare cases of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, have been reported in people who have received Pfizer vaccine, especially in young men.

Additional doses of Moderna and Pfizer

Separately, the EMA has given the green light to people with “severely weakened immune systems” to get additional doses of Moderna and Pfizer at least 28 days after their second dose. Sometimes two doses are not enough to produce enough antibodies in people who are immunocompromised, such as people who have had an organ transplant.

“Although there is no direct evidence that the ability to produce antibodies in these patients protects against Covid-19, the additional dose is expected to increase protection at least in some patients,” said declared the EMA.