Pfizer's New Vaccine Plans Garner Mixed Reactions On Twitter
The news that Pfizer is starting trials on another COVID-19 vaccine that specifically targets the Omicron variant has been met with mixed reactions from the public (via NBC News).
Adults ages 18 to 55 are set to take part in the trial which will aim to produce a strong immune response to the very contagious strain. Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech, explained in a statement, "Vaccines continue to offer strong protection against severe disease caused by Omicron. Yet, emerging data indicate vaccine-induced protection against infection and mild to moderate disease wanes more rapidly than was observed with prior strains" (via The Hill).
CNBC reports the new vaccine will potentially be ready for distribution to the public in March. But as infectious disease doctor Dr. Shaun Truelove told the outlet, "Given how quickly this [variant] is happening, [the targeted vaccine] may not matter because everybody's going to be infected." Dr. William Moss added the vaccine was really needed in December.
And Twitter is not sure about the vaccine either.
Twitter is out to vet the new vaccine
Reacting to stories about Omicron-specific vaccine trials, folks on Twitter expressed skepticism. "I'm not taking a vaccine for every single variant. Got my two shots and a booster and I'm done," one person tweeted. Others intimated Pfizer was working on another vaccine for profits, with one person commenting, "Keep raking in those millions."
"So get the first and second booster then get this shot too so it helps fight Omicron but whoops there is another variant now so take your third booster tilll we get another shot for that variant. Endless cycle and who is making all the money off this," another person tweeted. "Well we still haven't found a way to stop people from getting the first strains of covid," noted another Twitter user.
"It seems it may be a little late for that," another skeptic tweeted about the new vaccine. But other people were on board with getting the additional poke, with someone tweeting, "Make it snappy [SO] CAN [ROLL] UP MY SLEEVE!!" And yet another social media user offered this humorous take: "eventually we will be all forced to subscribe to VAX box which will include a booster for the variant of the month."