Will New Jerseyans Need A Fourth COVID-19 Vaccine?

NEW JERSEY — Will New Jersey residents need a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccines? The answer to that question seems to depend on who you ask.

The two leading COVID-19 manufacturers in the United States have differing views.

Pfizer submitted data to the FDA on Tuesday that the company felt justified the need for a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the president of COVID-19 rival manufacturer Moderna said a fourth shot is not always necessary.

According to a Pfizer press release, the rates of “confirmed infections” were two times lower and rates of severe illness were four times lower among more than 1.1 million Israeli adults aged 60 years and older who had no known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and received a fourth dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, compared with those who had only received three vaccine doses.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is necessary during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on March 13, as the third dose is "is not that good against infections" and "doesn't last very long."

Moderna president Stephen Hoge, meanwhile, told Business Insider on Monday that while a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine would provide a benefit to its recipients, most people should be able to decide for themselves if they should get one, rather than being required to do so.

"For those who are immune-compromised, those who are older adults, over the age of 50 or at least 65, we want to strongly recommend and encourage [a fourth shot], the same way we do with flu vaccines," Hoge said.

Camden County Commissioner Louis Cappelli Jr. told Patch that the COVID-19 situation in the county and South Jersey is significantly better than it was a few months ago.

However, he added this should not make Camden County and South Jersey residents complacent and encouraged them to stay informed about COVID-19.

"We are not out of the woods yet and are still working through a pandemic," Cappelli said. "We are still encouraging everyone to get a booster when the FDA gives approval for children under the age of 6 to get the vaccine parents should line up for it and in certain cases mask use is still good for someone who might be sick, but can’t get tested."

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