Pfizer-BioNTech is hoping to have a COVID-19 vaccine available for children ages five to 11 in the near future.
The company has said its vaccine works well in children five to 11, and because of that, will soon seek authorization for emergency use in the United States.
This comes after a clinical trial with 2,268 participants.
Today with @BioNTech_Group, we are proud to announce positive topline results from the pivotal trial of our #COVID19 vaccine in children 5-11 years of age. https://t.co/a1mSEgxNHQ pic.twitter.com/9xGfYEzFuy
— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) September 20, 2021
The current Pfizer vaccine is only available to those 12 and older.
For elementary school kids, Pfizer tested a much lower dose, about a third of the amount that’s in each shot given now to those 12 and up.
After their second dose, children ages five to 11 developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teenagers and young adults, Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer senior vice president said.
Side effects have been similar to those seen in teenagers and adults, including arm soreness, fever and tiredness.
While kids are less likely to develop series disease from COVID-19, more than five-million children have tested positive for the virus in the U.S. since the pandemic began in March of 2020.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, at least 460 of those children have died.
Good news, everyone. Pfizer announced early this morning their vaccine was safe & effective in kids b/w 5-12.
They're expected to file for regulatory approvals by end of September. Jabs for kids should begin sometime in October.#COVID19SK#COVID19ABhttps://t.co/F5ZVlYsDaI
— Dr. Alexander Wong (@awong37) September 20, 2021
