Pfizer CEO Bourla says vaccine adapted to Omicron will be ready in March; not sure 4th dose needed

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla tells CNBC that the company will soon be ready to widely distribute a vaccine adapted to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

“This vaccine will be ready in March. We (are) already starting manufacturing some of these quantities at risk,” he says, meaning it is pending approval.

“The hope is that we will achieve something that will have way, way better protection particularly against infections, because the protection against the hospitalizations and the severe disease — it is reasonable right now, with the current vaccines, as long as you are having let’s say the third dose,” he adds.

Bourla also says he isn’t convinced a fourth vaccine dose — currently given by Israel to risk groups — is needed, saying more evidence is required on that.

“I don’t know if there’s a need for a fourth booster, that’s something that needs to be tested, and I know Israel has already started some of these experiments. I don’t think we should do anything that is not needed,” he says.