the head of the pharmaceutical giant pfizer says annual booster vaccinations against covid vaccine will probably be needed. pfizer is already working on a new version of its covid jab to deal with the omicron variant should it be required. in a rare interview, albert bourla spoke to our medical editor fergus walsh about the crucial role of vaccines in the pandemic. by by the end of the year, 3 billion doses of pfizer biontech s covid vaccine will have been produced. 4 billion next year. the boss of pfizer is in no doubt about the crucial role vaccines have played in this pandemic. i crucial role vaccines have played in this pandemic this pandemic. i think the bottom line is millions this pandemic. i think the bottom line is millions of this pandemic. i think the bottom line is millions of lives this pandemic. i think the bottom line is millions of lives were - line is millions of lives were saved. what was demonstrated was the human ingenuity and the power. since the emergence
is millions of lives were saved. what was demonstrated was the human ingenuity and the power. since the emergence of the 0micron variant, pfizer, like othervaccine producers, says it could have an updated jab ready in 100 days if it is needed. do you predict that we are going to end up seeing fourth doses, fifth doses? if we had to make a guess based on everything i have seen so far, i would say that the likelihood we will need annual vaccinations to maintain a high level of protection. in october the fda, the american regulator, prove your vaccine for 5 11 year olds. that was after successful trials. do you think immunising that age group is likely to happen in the uk and europe? i think it s a very good idea.