Study: Pfizer, Moderna COVID immunity could last longer than expected

Immunity with the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines could last longer than expected.

The findings add to growing evidence that the vaccine protect against the virus for longer than originally thought.

It may mean that booster shots for the MRNA coronavirus vaccines aren’t needed anytime soon.

"If the virus itself changes significantly, then a booster will definitely be needed, just to retrain our immune cells to recognize the new features of the various viruses," said Ally Ellebedy, PhD, an immunologist at Washington University in St. Louis.

The study did not consider the vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson, but researchers say they expected the immune response to be less durable than that produced by mRNA vaccines.