Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is being criticised by one of Australia’s top doctors for claiming a fourth dose of the Covid-19 is ‘necessary’.
The pharmceutical company boss told CBS’ Face The Nation that Pfizer submitted data to the US Food and Drug Administration to help develop a fourth dose of the vaccine.
He said while having a third dose helps protect against severe disease, it’s ineffective in warding off infections in the long term.
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"Many variants are coming, and Omicron was the first one that was able to evade - in a skillful way - the immune protection that we're giving," he said.
"The protection we are getting from the third (dose) it is good enough - actually quite good for hospitalisations and deaths. It's not that good against infections.”
He continued: "It is necessary, a fourth (dose) for right now.”
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However, Australia’s former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said the fourth dose is just a ploy for these companies to accumulate more revenue from another vaccine.
“Pfizer would do the world a favour if they stopped talking about fourth (COVID-19) doses," he explained to news.com.au.
“It’s not their role, it probably borders on irresponsible to be talking about fourth doses when there’s a significant number of people around the world who haven’t had the opportunity to get vaccinated.
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“It’s also purely designed to generate revenue from wealthy countries worried about fourth doses.”
He said Pfizer should instead direct their profits to help address pneumococcal disease, which he claims is a ‘bigger issue’ than Covid-19.
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus.
These infections can affect the ear, cause sinus infections, pneumonia and bloodstream infections.
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The disease is a major health crisis in poverty-stricken nations, and The World Health Organization estimates 300,000 children under five die from the infection every year.
Despite a vaccine created 20 years ago, it’s not affordable to many low-income countries, and Dr. Coatsworth has called on the pharmaceutical industry to make the vaccine more accessible.
Dr. Coatsworth also took to Twitter yesterday (March 15), slamming Pfizer for alleging a fourth booster shot is needed, and said they should instead focus on more pressing global health issues.
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“Hey Pfizer instead of doing press releases about how we all need a 4th dose of Covid 19 vaccine, how about you really surprise us and provide pneumococcal vaccine at cost to all low income nations," he said.
"Be like Astra[Zeneca].”
In 2021, Pfizer brought in a record-breaking US$37 billion in revenue from its vaccine, officially making it some of the most lucrative products in history.
Charisa Bossinakis