Pfizer's (PFE) CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC that he is concerned about the Omicron coronavirus variant, but he has been preparing for this. He warned that there are a lot of unknowns about this strain, but he expects that information will be known within weeks.
Bourla also added that he has a "very high degree of confidence" that Paxlovid - Pfizer's investigational COVID-19 antiviral - will be effective because it doesn't target the spike proteins. Paxlovid was designed for potential mutations in mind, he said.
In addition, the CEO said the third dose of Pfizer's vaccine provides very high protection against the Delta variant but noted that it is unclear if its effectiveness will be reduced with the Omicron variant and how much. According to Bourla, if the vaccine effectiveness declines to a low level, Pfizer can make a new vaccine in 95 days.