Do we Need a Covid Booster Shot with the Delta Variant?

Although studies of a third dose are underway, experts agree that the vaccines are still working well, even against the Delta variant, and that booster shots are not necessary right now.

A surprise announcement from the vaccine maker Pfizer-BioNTech that it plans to seek authorization for a booster shot in the United States has prompted new worries among the general public about the effectiveness of Covid vaccines against the highly contagious Delta variant.

Pfizer said it plans to seek authorization for a booster shot in the coming weeks, citing the possibility that protection against the coronavirus will wane six to 12 months after full immunization with the current two-shot regimen.

But Pfizer’s talk of booster shots has been dismissed as premature by some of the world’s leading vaccine experts, who note that all evidence suggests that the Pfizer shots, along with the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, continue to provide strong protection against Covid-19.

“Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time,” the statement said. “We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.”

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