Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech released a statement on Monday, 20 September, that the Covid-19 vaccine developed by them is safe to be used on children aged 5 to 11 years.
The two companies also said they have plans to reach out to medicine agencies in the EU, USA and elsewhere to ask for approval for their vaccine to be used in this age group.
«In participants 5 to 11 years of age, the vaccine was safe, well tolerated and showed robust neutralizing antibody responses,» the statement from US Pfizer and German BioNTech detailed.
The statement mentions that children under the age of 12 should be given a smaller dose than adults.
The results of trials performed by Pfizer and BioNTech are the first related to the use of Covid-19 vaccine on children aged younger than 12 years.
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Moderna, meanwhile, continues its trial runs of the vaccine on children aged 6 to 11 years.
Both Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and Moderna Covid-19 vaccine are already used to vaccinate children under the age of 12.
Although it is believed children are under a lower risk of severe Covid-19 infection, there are concerns about Delta Covid-19 variant potentially causing severe infection.
Child vaccination is considered important to make sure school teaching is safe and in the context of the fight against the pandemic.
In the study children aged 5 to 11 years received two doses of the vaccine – ten micro grams each. Doses were administered with a 21-day interval, companies report, adding that the aforementioned amount was picked as the most appropriate.
The dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for adults is 30 micro grams.
Companies note the side effects observed among participating children were similar to adults in the age group 16 to 25 years.
The most frequently reported side-effects include pain and swelling in the location of the injection, as well as headaches, fever and shivering.
Israel has already permitted the use of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in smaller doses for children aged 5 to 12 years who are at risk of severe Covid-19 infection or death.
Pfizer and BioNTech are carrying out vaccine tests on children aged six months to 2 years and children aged 2 to 5 years. Results of these tests are expected in Q4 2021.
Up to 4 500 children aged 6 months to 11 years are participating in Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine tests in USA, Finland, Poland and Spain.
Companies: Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is safe to use on children aged 5 to 11 years
