Pfizer scientists reported that their coronavirus vaccine is safe and will likely be effective in younger children. This pharmaceutical company plans to request authorization from the FDA to apply it to children between 5 and 11 years of age since they currently have the right to supply it to children over 12 years of age.
Pfizer-BioNTech created a vaccine against COVID-19, recognized as one of the safest in the world. On Monday, drug manufacturers reported that this vaccine generated an excellent immune response in a trial conducted with children between 5 and 11 years old.
On the other hand, both pharmaceutical companies reported that they plan to continue sending statistical data to the Food and Drug Administration and the International Drug Regulators. It could make your COVID-19 vaccine the first licensed for young children.
This two-dose vaccine is approved right now for children up to 12 years of age in the United States. Many Parents and public health leaders have incessantly called for vaccines, to be expanded to younger populations, especially because in recent months, COVID-19 cases in children have increased.
Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s CEO, said in a statement: “Since July, pediatric cases of COVID-19 have increased by approximately 240% in the United States, underscoring the need for public health vaccination.”
When the two drug companies submit their data to regulators, the FDA will have the pressure to act quickly and approve the vaccine. Drug and vaccine reviews generally take 9-12 months, but the agency has prioritized COVID-19 vaccine evaluation. It only took a month to approve the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 to 15 in May.
However, no one is aware of how quickly the FDA is going to expand the vaccine to younger children. Previously, Pfizer indicated that it hopes that the FDA will authorize the injection of the vaccine in children to ensure their protection.
Similarly, the two drug companies are looking to administer the vaccine in smaller doses ( ten around micrograms) for this younger age group. For adults and children 12 years of age and older, the vaccine will be given in the dose of 30 micrograms.
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Final words
Well-known pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and BioNTech tested the 10-microgram dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on 2,268 children ages 5 to 11. Their immune responses to the vaccine will be measured by the level of antibodies, that fight the virus in their blood, which was similar to those of a 16- to 25-year-old group who received the standard 30-microgram dose.
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