Pfizer: "Even with Oral COVID Treatment, Vaccinations Must Continue"

"Booster Shot Vaccination Restores 95% Preventive Effect"

Pfizer emphasized that vaccination must continue even after the introduction of antiviral drugs.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Following the COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer, which recently developed an oral treatment, emphasized that "the effectiveness of the treatment does not reduce the necessity of vaccination."

Ralph Ren? Rheinert, Head of Medical Affairs at Pfizer's Global Vaccine Business Unit, stated this during a press lecture hosted by Pfizer Korea on the afternoon of the 8th. He said, "Pfizer must focus on both vaccine and antiviral drug development."

Rheinert emphasized, "Even if antiviral drugs are effective, they cannot completely prevent virus infection itself, and only vaccines can prevent COVID-19 before infection occurs."

He also shared analysis results related to booster shots, explaining that about six months after the second Pfizer vaccine dose, the effectiveness against symptomatic infection decreases to the 40% range, but receiving a booster shot at that time strengthens the immune response again, restoring the preventive effect to nearly 95%.

In South Korea, currently, booster shots are administered only to high-risk groups and those who received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine. When asked whether the general adult population outside of high-risk groups should also receive booster shots, Rheinert did not answer directly but explained, "The data shows that booster shots are safe."

Meanwhile, regarding the claim published in the British international academic journal 'British Medical Journal (BMJ)' that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials were conducted inadequately, Rheinert dismissed it, saying, "We are aware of the content, reviewing it, and related procedures are underway."

He added, "It was somewhat regrettable that the journal did not contact Pfizer first to request an analysis," and emphasized, "We should remember that clinical trial results and real-world data matched accurately."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.