World's First Covid Vaccine Manufacturer Hints 'New Vaccine' May Be Required By Next Year

<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> At a time when the threat of Covid-19 still looms large, BioNTech SE Chief Executive Officer Ugur Sahin, which developed the first Covid-19 vaccine along with Pfizer said a new formula will likely be required by mid-2022 to protect against future virus mutations.</p> <p>In an interview with the Financial Times, Ugur Sahin said the current variants of Covid-19 including the contagious Delta strain were not different enough to undermine current vaccinations. However, new strains will emerge that can evade booster shots and the body&rsquo;s immune defenses.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://ift.tt/3uDHykK Reports 20,799 Coronavirus Cases In Last 24 Hrs, Lowest In 200 Days</a></strong></p> <p>&ldquo;This year (a different vaccine) is completely unneeded, but by mid-next year, it could be a different situation," he said. &ldquo;This is a continuous evolution, and that evolution has just started. This virus will stay, and the virus will further adapt," he added.</p> <p>BioNTech has developed the Covid-19 vaccine in partnership with US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer Inc.</p> <p>In September, the companies submitted initial data to US regulators on vaccine dosage for children aged 5 to 11. This brings the pharma company a step closer to the race to develop shots for school-age kids.</p> <p>The announcement has offered hope to parents in the United States who are already worried that a return to in-person schooling has put children at risk of infection.</p> <p>While stating that the US is able to manage its latest surge in cases, Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden&rsquo;s chief medical adviser, urged more Americans to get vaccinated after the pandemic death toll passed 700,000.</p> <p>Fauci said that while the full-vaccination rate has reached 55 percent, the key risk is the 70 million eligible people in the US who haven&rsquo;t gotten a shot.</p>