Pfizer and BioNTech plan to file for emergency use authorization for COVID vaccine booster as Delta variant spreads
CBSN
Pfizer announced on Thursday that its COVID vaccine booster shot could further protect individuals from "all currently known variants" of COVID-19 — including the highly transmittable Delta variant. The booster shot is currently undergoing trials, the company said, and has shown "encouraging clinical trial data in a small number of participants in our study."
Pfizer said that the initial two doses that patients received have elicited "strong immune responses" against the Delta variant and that current studies are focused on whether the booster shot will increase that response even further. Trial data has shown that when given six months after the second dose, Pfizer's booster has a "consistent tolerability profile" and neutralizes an immune response. Pfizer and BioNTech plan to share their booster data with the Food and Drug Administration in August and file for emergency use authorization shortly thereafter, a Pfizer spokesperson said.
A judge sharply questioned a lawyer for the federal government on Tuesday over the Pentagon's efforts to cut Anthropic out of its classified systems — the latest development in a dispute between the company and the Trump administration over AI guardrails. In:
Washington — The Senate on Tuesday rejected the latest Democratic-led effort to rein in President Trump on Iran as the U.S. and Tehran send conflicting messages about how the war might end.
FedEx said Tuesday that it will offer same-day delivery in partnership with logistics company OneRail, with the announcement following a recent move by Amazon to offer expedited deliveries across the U.S. Edited by Alain Sherter In:
OpenAI said Tuesday that it is discontinuing its Sora AI video app. Edited by Alain Sherter In:
The Pentagon is expected to send parts of the 82nd Airborne division to the Middle East as the Iran war extends into its fourth week, according to two sources. In:
Financial markets experts are raising concerns about possible insider trading after an unusual spike in oil futures trading only minutes before President Trump announced talks with Iran on Truth Social. Edited by Alain Sherter In:
NASA announced ambitious long-range plans Tuesday to spend $20 billion over the next seven years to build a moon base near the lunar south pole featuring habitats, pressurized rovers and nuclear power systems. The announcement came just over a week before the planned launch of NASA's Artemis II around-the-moon mission. In:
Minnesota state and county officials sued the federal government Tuesday, alleging they are being blocked from investigating the shootings of Renee Good, Alex Pretti and Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis by federal agents. In:
Washington — It's not a palace, but next month the White House is set to be overrun by royals. Gabrielle Ake contributed to this report.
Epic Games, the video game maker behind Fortnite, is laying off more than 1,000 workers amid "extreme" market conditions and a downturn in engagement with its most popular game, CEO Tim Sweeney said in a blog post Tuesday. Edited by Aimee Picchi In:
Security screening lines are so long at some U.S. airports that major airlines are letting passengers cancel or rebook their tickets free of charge during the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. Edited by Alain Sherter In:
Travelers at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport are standing for hours in security lines that may cause more risks for travelers — amid a DHS funding fight that's resulted in TSA staff shortages at major U.S. airports. Kaia Hubbard and Kathryn Krupnik contributed to this report. In:
Washington — President Trump, who calls voting by mail "cheating" and wants to restrict the method, voted by mail this month in Florida's special elections, public records show. In: