Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11

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Pfizer said Monday its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it volition question U.S. authorization for this property radical soon -- a cardinal measurement toward opening vaccinations for youngsters.

The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German spouse BioNTech already is disposable for anyone 12 and older. But with kids present backmost successful schoolhouse and the extra-contagious delta variant causing a immense leap successful pediatric infections, galore parents are anxiously awaiting vaccinations for their younger children.

For simple school-aged kids, Pfizer tested a overmuch little dose -- a 3rd of the magnitude that’s successful each changeable fixed now. Yet aft their 2nd dose, children ages 5 to 11 developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels conscionable arsenic beardown arsenic teenagers and young adults, Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer elder vice president, told The Associated Press.

The kid dosage besides proved safe, with akin oregon less impermanent broadside effects -- specified arsenic sore arms, fever oregon achiness -- that teens experience, helium said.

“I deliberation we truly deed the saccharine spot,” said Gruber, who’s besides a pediatrician.

Gruber said the companies purpose to use to the Food and Drug Administration by the extremity of the period for exigency usage successful this property group, followed soon afterward with applications to European and British regulators.

Earlier this month, FDA main Dr. Peter Marks told the AP that erstwhile Pfizer turns implicit its survey results, his bureau would measure the information “hopefully successful a substance of weeks” to determine if the shots are harmless and effectual capable for younger kids.

Many Western countries truthful acold person vaccinated nary younger than property 12, awaiting grounds of what's the close dose and that it works safely successful smaller tots. But Cuba past week began immunizing children arsenic young arsenic 2 with its homegrown vaccines and Chinese regulators person cleared 2 of its brands down to property 3.

While kids are astatine little hazard of terrible unwellness oregon decease than older people, much than 5 cardinal children successful the U.S. person tested affirmative for COVID-19 since the pandemic began and astatine slightest 460 person died, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cases successful children person risen dramatically arsenic the delta variant swept done the country.

“I consciousness a large consciousness of urgency” successful making the vaccine disposable to children nether 12, Gruber said. “There’s pent-up request for parents to beryllium capable to person their children returned to a mean life.”

In New Jersey, 10-year-old Maya Huber asked wherefore she couldn’t get vaccinated similar her parents and some teen brothers have. Her mother, Dr. Nisha Gandhi, a captious attraction doc astatine Englewood Hospital, enrolled Maya successful the Pfizer survey astatine Rutgers University. But the household hasn’t eased up connected their masking and different microorganism precautions until they larn if Maya received the existent vaccine oregon a dummy shot.

Once she knows she’s protected, Maya’s archetypal goal: “a immense sleepover with each my friends.”

Maya said it was breathtaking to beryllium portion of the survey adjacent though she was “super scared” astir getting jabbed. But “after you get it, astatine slightest you consciousness similar blessed that you did it and relieved that it didn’t hurt," she told the AP.

Pfizer said it studied the little dose successful 2,268 kindergartners and simple school-aged kids. The FDA required what is called an immune “bridging" study: grounds that the younger children developed antibody levels already proven to beryllium protective successful teens and adults. That's what Pfizer reported Monday successful a property release, not a technological publication. The survey inactive is ongoing, and determination haven't yet been capable COVID-19 cases to comparison rates betwixt the vaccinated and those fixed a placebo — thing that mightiness connection further evidence.

The survey isn’t ample capable to observe immoderate highly uncommon broadside effects, specified arsenic the bosom inflammation that sometimes occurs aft the 2nd dose, mostly successful young men. The FDA’s Marks said the pediatric studies should beryllium ample capable to regularisation retired immoderate higher hazard to young children. Pfizer’s Gruber said erstwhile the vaccine is authorized for younger children, they’ll beryllium cautiously monitored for uncommon risks conscionable similar everyone else.

A 2nd U.S. vaccine maker, Moderna, besides is studying its shots successful simple school-aged children. Pfizer and Moderna are studying adjacent younger tots arsenic well, down to 6-month-olds. Results are expected aboriginal successful the year.

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AP writer Emma Tobin contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives enactment from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely liable for each content.

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