It is likely that Covid vaccines will be needed for years to come in order to maintain “a very high level of protection”, the boss of Pfizer has said.
It comes after ministers announced a further 114 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would be delivered over the next two years.
Dr Albert Bourla told the BBC that, without vaccines, the “fundamental structure of our society would be threatened”.
He said: “Based on everything I have seen so far, I would say that annual vaccinations… are likely to be needed to maintain a very robust and very high level of protection.”
It is not yet clear whether the vaccines will need to be tweaked every year for new variants, as happens with the annual flu jab.
In October, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer jab for five to 11-year-olds.
Dr Bourla said immunising that age group in the UK and Europe would be a very good idea.
“Covid in schools is thriving,” he said.
“This is disturbing, significantly, the educational system, and there are kids that will have severe symptoms.
“So there is no doubt in my mind that the benefits, completely, are in favour of doing it.”
Health secretary Sajid Javid said the new jabs, which will be delivered in 2022 and 2023, will “future proof” the UK’s immunisation programme and help to combat Omicron and other variants of concern.
They include 60 million additional doses of the Moderna vaccine and 54 million Pfizer doses.
Mr Javid said: “This is a national mission, and our best weapon to deal with this virus and its variants is to get jabs in arms – so when you are called forward, get the jab and get boosted.”
However, scientists have expressed scepticism over the need for booster campaigns.
Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organisation’s health emergencies programme, said he is not aware of any evidence that would suggest offering booster jabs to the entire population gives any greater protection to healthy people.
He said countries who were able to offer their population a booster were in “a luxurious position”, while poorer nations struggled with their initial rollout.
