- The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine appears to be safe and effective for children between the ages of 5 and 11, according to data released by the company.
- Children under 12 are not currently able to get any COVID-19 vaccine.
- For younger children, the drugmaker tested a dose that’s only a third of the amount that’s in the shots given now.
- Side effects appeared to be more mild for children.
Pfizer announced Monday that clinical trials of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 showed promising results.
According to a press release from the drugmaker, results showed that the vaccine is safe for children and establishes a strong antibody response against the virus.
“Since July, pediatric cases of COVID-19 have risen by about 240 percent in the U.S. — underscoring the public health need for vaccination,” Albert Bourla, chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer, said in the statement on Sep. 20.
“These trial results provide a strong foundation for seeking authorization of our vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, and we plan to submit them to the FDA and other regulators with urgency,” Bourla said.
According to Pfizer, for younger children, the drugmaker tested a dose that was only a third of the amount that’s in the shots given now.
Yet after a second dose, children ages 5 to 11 developed protective antibody levels as strong as what’s seen in teenagers and young adults receiving the regular-strength shots.
Source: healthline