Pfizer asked US regulators on Tuesday to approve booster doses of its Covid-19 vaccine for anyone 18 or older, a step that comes amid concern over the potential increased spread of the coronavirus during holiday travel and gatherings.
Older Americans and other groups particularly vulnerable to the virus have had access to a third dose of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine since September. But the Food and Drug Administration has said it would move quickly to expand the option for boosters to younger people if warranted.
The pharmaceutical company has submitted early results of a new study to make the case that it is time to expand the booster campaign.
While all three vaccines used in the US continue to offer strong protection against severe Covid-19 illness and death, the shots’ effectiveness against milder infections can wane over time.
Pfizer’s new study, comprising 10,000 people, concluded boosters can restore protection against symptomatic infection to about 96 per cent. Side effects were similar to those seen with the company’s first two shots.
In a median of 11 months after their last Pfizer vaccination, trial participants were given either a third dose of the vaccine or a placebo. Researchers tracked any infections that occurred at least a week later and so far, five cases of symptomatic Covid-19 have been observed among booster recipients compared to 109 cases among those who received the placebo.
The administration of US President Joe Biden had originally envisioned boosters for all adults, but faced a stinging setback in September when the FDA’s scientific advisers rejected extra Pfizer doses for all.
The panel was not convinced that young, healthy people needed another dose, particularly when most of the world’s population remains unvaccinated.
Still, under today’s policies, two out of every three vaccinated adults are expected to qualify for boosters within the next few months — and many who do not can nonetheless receive an extra shot as most vaccine providers do not check qualifications.
The current rules state that people who initially received Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations are eligible for a booster six months after their last shot if they are 65 or older, or are at high risk of contracting Covid-19 due to underlying health problems, their job or living conditions.
Because the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not proven as effective as its two-dose competitors, any recipient of this vaccine can receive a booster two months later. And regardless of the initial brand of vaccination, the US has cleared mixing and matching for boosters.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
The five pillars of Islam
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Naga
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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