As one of the world's most prominent pharmaceutical companies warns that a booster shot may be needed to protect people from novel coronavirus variants, the federal government says otherwise.

According to two leading federal agencies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people do not need a third, or booster, dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at this time.

A joint statement issued Thursday by the CDC and FDA said:

"The United States is fortunate to have highly effective vaccines that are widely available for those aged 12 and up. 

People who are fully vaccinated are protected from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta. 

People who are not vaccinated remain at risk. 

Virtually all COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are among those who are unvaccinated. 

We encourage Americans who have not yet been vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and their community. 

 Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time. 

FDA, CDC, and NIH are engaged in a science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary. 

This process takes into account laboratory data, clinical trial data, and cohort data – which can include data from specific pharmaceutical companies, but does not rely on those data exclusively. 

We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public informed. We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed."

According to CNN, Pfizer claims research reveals that booster doses of its vaccine have produced levels of neutralizing antibodies that are five to ten times higher than what is produced after two doses.

The company also says it's also working on a new formulation for a booster dose that may more effective in protecting people from new variants.

At this time, statistics indicate that about 158 million people in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated.