The company said its current two-piece vaccine is 93 percent effective after six months
Pharmaceutical company Moderna said the COVID-19 vaccine is 93 percent effective within six months after the second dose, but as new types of the virus emerge, people who have received the vaccine may need a booster dose before winter.
The company made the announcement as part of its second-quarter earnings announcement on Thursday.
“We are pleased that our Covid-19 vaccine shows a sustained efficacy of 93 percent within six months, but we recognize that the delta variant is an important new threat, so we must remain vigilant,” Moderna CEO Stefan Bancel said in a statement with the earnings. release. Moderna president Stephen Hogg said during an earnings call that the use of a third booster "will likely be necessary to keep us as safe as possible during the Northern Hemisphere winter."
The company is studying the type of booster that will provide the best long-term protection against the delta variant and other potential variants of the coronavirus. Moderna said the third shot of the original vaccine and the new versions showed "strong antibody responses to the COVID-19 variants of concern."
On Wednesday, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) requested a suspension of COVID-19 booster shots in high-income countries, citing a lack of access to vaccines in low-income countries. But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a press conference on Wednesday that the World Health Organization is making a "wrong choice," noting that the United States has already donated 110 million doses of the vaccine to other countries. “More has to happen. But we think we can do both,” Psaki added.
Moderna said it sold $5.9 billion worth of its coronavirus vaccine during the six-month period ending June 30, for a total of 302 million doses. The company reported net profit of $2.8 billion and total revenue of $4.4 billion for the three months ended June 30, compared to $67 million in the prior year quarter.
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