By next week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will bestow authority to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to involve adolescents in the vaccination program. Three federal officials who are knowledgeable about the situation confirmed this report.
FDA to Authorize Pfizer Vaccine to Adolescents by Next Week
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 17: Nurses prepare Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines at the Austin Hospital on March 17, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. An online system has opened for phase 1B of the Australian COVID-19 vaccination program which includes people over aged 70, frontline workers, and individuals with certain medical conditions. Over 1000 general practitioners are participating in the vaccination program.
The rising cases of COVID-19 cover all people in all walks of life. From adults to kids, the worsening pandemic has been afflicting serious trouble to society.
For this cause, the FDA will expand its authorization of the Pfizer COVID vaccine to children ages 12 to 15 years old.
The unnamed officials who informed the source about the report said that the agency is currently processing the authorization. They also requested that their names will be kept anonymous so they could freely release information that the public should know.
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Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee will release the recommendations about the proper usage of the vaccines to the children.
The New York Times was first to report that the regulatory action of the agency was still undecided.
Over the past month, people are aware that the ongoing impact of the pandemic is progressing. Pediatricians and families expressed eagerness towards the context of allowing the children to be vaccinated ahead of the school calendar.
When FDA spokeswoman, Stephanie Caccomo was asked about the action, she did not give any response after her latest statement.
"The FDA's review of Pfizer's request to amend its emergency use authorization (EUA) in order to expand the age range for its COVID-19 vaccine to include individuals 12-15 years of age is ongoing. We can assure the public that we are working to review this request as quickly and transparently as possible," Caccomo stated.
Pfizer Vaccine was Authorized in 16 Years Old and Above
Last December, Pfizer received authorization from the FDA that its vaccine can now be used for 16-year-old people and above, Washington Post reported.
The recent Pfizer trial involving about 2,300 children ages 12 to 15 years old was conducted late in March. At that time, the company has accomplished the necessary data for the test.
It was shown there that half of the participants underwent the two-shot process which was safe and effective for usage in adults.
Pfizer also found out that the shot prompted stronger immune responses from the adolescents compared to the young adults.
According to experts, there is a lower chance for children to acquire COVID-19 infection. In the United States alone, there were approximately 300 out of 576,000 deaths that involve children.
At the moment, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine trial is still ongoing for young children.
Meanwhile, the Cambridge-based company, Moderna has been conducting a trial for the children. It is expected that by summer, the results will be revealed.
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Written by Joseph Henry
