Only days after its independent panel of advisers made its recommendation, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially authorized the use of Pfizer
Only days after its independent panel of advisers made its recommendation, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially authorized the use of Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 years old. The authorization is a major stepping stone in the path to inoculating young kids who face an increased risk of infection in the classroom. The US has authorized the COVID-19 vaccines in stages starting first with adults, then later on with older teens. The most recent authorization — until now — involved ages 12 to 15 years, leaving only the youngest kids in the US without a COVID-19 vaccination option. That changes with the FDA’s official authorization today, making it possible for eligible children as young as five to receive a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The FDA’s authorization for the 5 to 11 age group covers a two-dose vaccine protocol with a three-week waiting period between shots. As expected, the children in this age group will receive a lower “kid dose” of the Pfizer vaccine at 10 micrograms; this is compared to the 30-microgram dose authorized for recipients ages 12 and older. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D., said in a statement about the authorization: The FDA notes that its independent advisory committee was “overwhelmingly” in favor of recommending the vaccine for young kids, with only one expert abstaining.
