Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccines Approved For Children Within Age 5
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Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for children within ages 5 to 11 in the United States.
The United States Food and Drugs Administration approved a single booster dose of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for the children.
FDA said the booster dose should come at least five months after the completion of the primary vaccine series with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
FDA Commissioner, Robert M California, M.D made this known in a statement.
He said;
“While it has largely been the case that COVID-19 tends to be less severe in children than adults, the Omicron wave has seen more kids getting sick with the disease and being hospitalised, and children may also experience longer-term effects, even following initially mild disease.
“The FDA is authorising the use of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age to provide continued protection against COVID-19.
“Vaccination continues to be the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 and its severe consequences, and it is safe. If your child is eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and has not yet received their primary series, getting them vaccinated can help protect them from the potentially severe consequences that can occur, such as hospitalisation and death.”
It was reported in January that the FDA had approved the use of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for administration to persons between 12 and 15 years. Although, this is after they had completed the primary vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
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It said the COVID-19 vaccine for persons from 5 to 11 years old cuts across the use of only the primary vaccine. It said these persons should receive the booster shots at least five months after completing the primary vaccine.
“The FDA has authorised the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for use in individuals 5 years of age and older and has approved Comirnaty (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) for use in individuals 16 years of age and older.
“The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is effective in helping to prevent the most severe consequences of COVID-19 in individuals 5 years of age and older,” said Peter Marks, MD., PhD, director of the FDA’s Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
“Since authorising the vaccine for children down to 5 years of age in October 2021, emerging data suggest that vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 wanes after the second dose of the vaccine in all authorised populations. The FDA has determined that the known and potential benefits of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completing a primary series outweigh its known and potential risks and that a booster dose can help provide continued protection against COVID-19 in this and older age groups,” the FDA said.
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
