Pfizer-BioNTech not sure on vaccines' effectiveness on new Covid-19 variant 'Omicron'
The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech on Saturday issued a statement stating that they are not sure whether their vaccines would be able to help in the treatment of the new Covid-19 variant 'Omicron'.
The companies also promised to develop a new vaccine against the variant in about 100 days, Sputnik reported.
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This came after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it identified a new Covid-19 strain, the B.1.1.529 that was initially found in southern Africa. WHO named the new Covid-19 variant with the Greek letter 'Omicron'.
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"In the event that vaccine-escape variant emerges, Pfizer and BioNTech expect to be able to develop and produce a tailor-made vaccine against that variant in approximately 100 days, subject to regulatory approval," they added in the statement.
As reported by Sputnik, Pfizer and BioNTech said they expect more data on Omicron within the next two weeks and noted the variant significantly differs from previously observed ones, according to the statement.