Vaccinated Americans will now need a COVID-19 booster shot “somewhere between [every] six and 12 months,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US has administered more than 118 million doses of the Moderna shot as of May 19, and 125 million Americans are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, millions of vaccinated Americans could start receiving booster shots as soon as this fall.

Today, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said some Americans could need a booster shot as soon as September. In an email to Axios, Bancel that people who are at the highest risk from COVID-19, like healthcare workers and the elderly, could require a third shot in September.

“I think as a country we should rather be two months too early, than two months too late with outbreaks in several places,” Bancel said, according to a report from Axios.

Moderna CEO is alone. As we reported back in April, Pfizer CEO said that people will likely need a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated; followed by an annual COVID-19 shot

In a taped comment made in April, which was later made public, Bourla said people will “likely” need a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine within 12 months of getting fully vaccinated. Bourla said:

“A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role.”

Bourla also echoed a similar timeline during an interview with Axios on Wednesday, saying that the data he’s seen supports administering a booster shot “somewhere between eight and 12 months” after people are first vaccinated.

Bourla also told Axios during a virtual event on Wednesday that Pfizer is working on a “new version” of its coronavirus vaccine that will be easier to store at higher temperatures.