EU regulator authorizes Pfizer's COVID vaccine for kids 5-11

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THE HAGUE – The European Union's cause regulator connected Thursday authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for usage connected children from 5 to 11 years old, clearing the mode for shots to beryllium administered to millions of simple schoolhouse pupils amid a caller question of infections sweeping crossed the continent.

It is the archetypal clip the European Medicines Agency has cleared a COVID-19 vaccine for usage successful young children.

The bureau said it “recommended granting an hold of denotation for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty to see usage successful children aged 5 to 11.”

After evaluating a survey of the vaccine successful much than 2,000 children, the EMA estimated that the vaccine was astir 90% effectual successful preventing symptomatic COVID-19 successful young children and said the astir communal broadside effects were symptom astatine the injection site, headaches, musculus symptom and chills. The bureau said the two-dose regimen should beryllium fixed to children 3 weeks apart.

At slightest 1 state facing spiking infections didn't hold for the EMA approval. Authorities successful the Austrian capital, Vienna, already person begun vaccinating the 5 to 11 property group. Europe is presently astatine the epicenter of the pandemic and the World Health Organization has warned the continent could spot deaths apical 2 cardinal by the outpouring unless urgent measures are taken.

The EMA greenish airy for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and German institution BioNTech has to beryllium rubber-stamped by the EU’s enforcement branch, the European Commission, earlier wellness authorities successful subordinate states tin statesman administering shots.

Earlier this week, Germany’s wellness curate Jens Spahn said shipping of vaccines for younger children successful the EU would statesman connected Dec. 20.

The United States signed disconnected connected Pfizer’s kids-sized shots earlier this month, followed by different countries including Canada.

Pfizer tested a dose that is simply a 3rd of the magnitude fixed to adults for simple school-age children. Even with the smaller shot, children who are 5 to 11 years aged developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels conscionable arsenic beardown arsenic teenagers and young adults getting the regular-strength shots, Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer elder vice president, told The Associated Press successful September.

But the studies done connected Pfizer’s vaccine successful children haven’t been large capable to observe immoderate uncommon broadside effects from the 2nd dose, similar the thorax and bosom inflammation that has been seen successful mostly antheral older teens and young adults.

American officials noted that COVID-19 has caused much deaths successful children successful the 5 to 11 property radical than immoderate different diseases, specified arsenic chickenpox, did earlier children were routinely vaccinated.

Earlier this month, the EMA said it began evaluating the usage of Moderna Inc.‘s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 to 11; it estimated that a determination would beryllium made wrong 2 months.

Although children mostly lone get mild symptoms of COVID-19, immoderate nationalist wellness experts judge immunizing them should beryllium a precedence to trim the virus’ continued spread, which could theoretically pb to the emergence of a unsafe caller variant.

Researchers disagree connected however overmuch kids person influenced the people of the pandemic. Early probe suggested they didn’t lend overmuch to viral spread. But immoderate experts accidental children played a important relation this twelvemonth spreading contagious variants specified arsenic alpha and delta.

In a connection this week, WHO said that due to the fact that children and teens thin to person milder COVID-19 illness than adults, “it is little urgent to vaccinate them than older people, those with chronic wellness conditions and wellness workers.”

It has appealed to affluent countries to halt immunizing children and asked them to donate their doses instantly to mediocre countries who person yet to springiness a archetypal vaccine dose to their wellness workers and susceptible populations.

Still, WHO acknowledged that determination are benefits to vaccinating children and adolescents that spell beyond the contiguous wellness benefits.

“Vaccination that decreases COVID transmission successful this property radical whitethorn trim transmission from children and adolescents to older adults, and whitethorn assistance trim the request for mitigation measures successful schools,” WHO said.

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Maria Cheng reported from London.

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