Pfizer-BioNTech says no need yet to adapt vaccine for new coronavirus variants

German company BioNTech said its vaccine developed with Pfizer works against the Delta strain and does not need to be modified yet

They have shipped around 1 billion doses of their vaccines to more than 100 countries, and expect to generate US$33.5 billion in sales this year

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A health worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. BioNTech says a booster vaccine with the parental coronavirus strain is completely sufficient against the Delta variant. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:00am, 10 Aug 2021Updated: 12:57am, 10 Aug 2021

The first generation vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech works against coronavirus variants such as the Delta strain and does not need to be modified for the moment, the chief executive of German company BioNTech said on Monday.

“It is quite possible that in the next six to 12 months, further variants will emerge and that would require adaptation of the vaccine but it is at the moment not yet the case,” Ugur Sahin told journalists.

A decision to make a switch should be made only if it is clear that the vaccine failed to work or is only offering sub-par protection against the virus.

The fast-changing situation meant that getting the timing for the change right was also crucial.

“Making a decision at the moment might turn out to be wrong in three or six months if another variant is dominating. Therefore the timing of the decision must be appropriate,” he said.

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