Pfizer to seek approval for a 3rd vaccine dose

Pfizer says it is about to seek U.S. authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, but U.S. health officials say a booster isn't needed yet.

The company said Thursday that another shot could dramatically boost immunity and maybe help ward off the latest worrisome coronavirus mutant.

Pfizer says early data from a company trial suggests people's antibody levels jump after they get a third dose.

But the filing doesn't mean third doses would be rolled out any time soon.

Public health officials would have to decide if they're really needed.

And U.S. health officials followed Pfizer's announcement with a statement saying they want to see more data before authorizing booster shots.

Dr. Stephen Schrantz, an infectious diseases expert at University of Chicago Medicine says "This is science in motion, and there's always going to be a debate about the best way to proceed."

Schrantz says continuing to be active and thinking proactively about how to prevent this going forward is important.