Superhero to rescue

A doctor in a superhero costume administers a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose to a teenager at a clinic in the American state of Pennsylvania.

Pfizer expects a Covid-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron variant to be ready in March.

CEO Albert Bourla said Pfizer was already making the doses because of keen interest from governments, as authorities grapple with high infection counts, including big numbers of “breakthrough” Omicron cases in vaccinated populations.

“This vaccine will be ready in March,” Bourla told CNBC. “I don’t know if we will need it. I don’t know if and how it will be used.”

He said the existing regime of two vaccine shots and a booster has provided “reasonable” protection against serious health effects from Omicron.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel also said the firm was developing a booster that could address Omicron and other emerging strains later this year.

“We need to be careful to try to stay ahead of a virus and not behind the virus,” Bancel said.