US all set to approve Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children 5-11
Oct 27, 2021: An expert panel on Tuesday overwhelmingly recommended that the US Food and Drug Administration approve Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years.
The benefits of the shot far outweigh the risks. Permission for this age group would be an important regulatory step to vaccinate up to 28 million children, most of whom return to school to learn in person.
The vaccine may be available to the younger group sooner next week. The FDA is not bound to follow the advice of its external experts, but it usually does. With one absentee, 17 votes were cast in favor.
If the FDA allows shots for this age group, an advisory panel from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet next week to make recommendations on vaccine administration.
The CDC director will make the final call. Although infant mortality or COVID-19 mortality is relatively lower than in adults, it does cause some complications, and increases the risk of infection due to the easily transmitted delta variant of the corona virus in unvaccinated children.
Statistics from the American Academy of Pediatrics show that more than 500 American children have died from COVID-19.
Only a handful of other countries, including China, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates, have so far tested the COVID-19 vaccine for children under this age. In the United States, only 57% of the population is fully vaccinated, behind other nations such as Britain and France.
However, the percentage of young children taking shots may be lower. The US vaccination rate for children aged 12 to 15 is about 47% behind other age groups. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been urging rich countries since May to reconsider their plans to vaccinate children and instead donate COVID-19 shots to the COVAX program for distribution in poor countries.
Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking clearance for a lower, 10-microgram dose of the vaccine in young children, versus 30 micrograms for those age 12 and older. The shot has been authorised for ages 12-15 since May after being cleared for those age 16 and older in December.
If allowed, the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine may be available to the US age group for some time. On Monday, Moderna released data from its clinical trials of children aged 6 to 11, and said it would soon seek permission from regulators in the age group.
It is not clear when US regulators will consider it. The company is still awaiting a response to a June application for its vaccine in children between the ages of 12 and 17.
Pfizer said it could have clinical trial data on young children between the ages of 2 and 4 by the end of the year.
Stay tuned ti BaaghiTV for latest news and Updates!
KSA announces to financially aid Pakistan
