URMC & Rochester Regional Health Launch COVID-19 Booster Trial
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and Rochester Regional Health have initiated a new clinical trial, testing the safety and efficacy of a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Led locally by Dr. Ed Walsh and Dr. Ann Falsey, the study aims to understand the duration of protection and immunity boost from the Pfizer vaccine.
The trial, involving 144 volunteers including 35 from Rochester who participated in phase 1 trials, will occur at Rochester General Hospital. It aims to understand the safety and immunogenicity of multiple doses of an mRNA Pfizer vaccine and help develop tailor-made, variant-specific boosters. The study will measure the boost to the immune system, evaluate protection against coronavirus variants, and monitor side effects.
The URMC and Rochester Regional Health have been involved in the development of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine since its phase 1 clinical trials in May 2020. Pfizer has contracted with the URMC to conduct this clinical trial in Rochester. Pfizer and BioNTech have begun discussions with regulatory agencies regarding studies to evaluate a modified version of their approved Pfizer vaccine to combat emerging strains.
The results of the clinical study on a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Rochester were published in July 2021. The trial's findings will contribute to the understanding of the Pfizer vaccine's long-term effectiveness and the development of targeted boosters against variants.
