Pfizer CEO promotes fourth vaccine dose

Albert Bourla told CBS News he believes people should get a fourth dose of the Pfizer vaccine due to waning immunity. The CEO did not share the latest data to support his recommendation but said his company was submitting it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bourla also said Pfizer is working on a coronavirus vaccine that would be effective against all COVID-19 virus variants for at least a year.

What’s the latest on the pandemic and booster shots? Based on recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 90 percent of Americans live in areas with low spread of COVID-19. Anyone ages 12 and older can get a third dose of Pfizer’s vaccine five months after the second shot. Some immunocompromised patients are eligible for a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, according to the CDC. Countries like Israel and Germany have already authorized second booster doses for high-risk groups, and the U.K. plans to roll out extra doses for seniors and immunocompromised people.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard interview a pharmacist on what life after the pandemic might look like.