Health

EMA recommends Pfizer vaccine booster for adults

The Hague, Oct 4 (EFE).- The European Medicines Agency on Monday recommended a booster shot of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for the general population six months after the second dose.

The European drug regulator also endorsed a third dose of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for the immunosuppressed people at least 28 days after getting the full course.

The agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use took the decision after analyzing the Pfizer/BioNTec pharmaceutical company’s data that showed an increase in antibody levels when the booster is given about six months after the second dose in people aged between 18 to 55 years.

 “The risk of inflammatory heart conditions or other very rare side effects after a booster is not known and is being carefully monitored,” the agency said in a statement.

“An extra dose of these vaccines increased the ability to produce antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19 in organ transplant patients with weakened immune systems,” the statement added.

“Although there is no direct evidence that the ability to produce antibodies in these patients protected against COVID-19, it is expected that the extra dose would increase protection at least in some patients,” it read. EFE

ir/ta/mp

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