KUALA LUMPUR (March 14): A fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will be necessary to continue to help keep hospitalisations manageable and sicknesses more mild, said Pfizer chief executive officer (CEO) Albert Bourla.

Making an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday (March 13), he said: “Right now, the way that we have seen, it is necessary [for] a fourth booster (second booster dose) right now.

“The protection that you are getting from the third [dose] ... it is good enough, actually quite good against hospitalisations and deaths," he said.

American newspaper and digital media company The Hill quoted him as saying that it's not that good against infections but doesn't last very long.

“We are submitting those data to the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration), and then we will see what the experts will say outside Pfizer," he said.

In August, the FDA fully approved Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for people at least 16 years old or older.

A third dose of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine has been granted emergency use authorisation.

The Hill reported that Bourla told CNBC on Saturday of the company's plans to submit data for a fourth vaccine dose.

"It’s clear that there is a need in an environment of Omicron to boost the immune response," he said while appearing on CNBC's "Squawk Box”.

Countries including Israel, Chile and Germany have already begun recommending a fourth vaccine dose for high-risk groups.