U.S. reports say Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine could get emergency approval for children aged six months to five years by the end of February, much earlier than expected.
The kids trial had setbacks, but this is the news some parents have been waiting for.
American reports say Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children under five could be available by the end of the month.
Former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said: “Ultimately, the decision resides with FDA, but there is some indication that there may be an early reaction on that application.”
The U.S. food and drug administration reportedly urged Pfizer to submit its emergency use application. Regulators can now start reviewing the data for its two dose kids vaccine.
In December, Pfizer said two low dose shots prompted a strong immune response in children six months to two years old, but fell shots in children aged two to four. The trial now includes a third low dose as well.
Pediatric vaccinologist Dr. Noni MacDonald said: “I think there’s a lot of pressure on Pfizer to submit to the FDA, because there’s a lot of concern about the number of children that are being hospitalized in the U.S. with Covid.”
“As for Canada, it’s not to say we don’t have some children in this age group that are hospitalized, but it is not such a huge problem as it is in the U.S.”
So far, only fifty three percent of kids aged five to eleven have been vaccinated. Even though there have been no significant safety concerns, doctors say the belief among many parents is the virus doesn’t really make kids sick.
As pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Srivinas Murthy said: “The arguments that covid-19 isn’t severe in small children aren’t really sure.”
But doctors insist the virus can lead to other serious conditions in kids, including multi system inflammatory syndrome.
As Dr. Srivinas Murthy continued: “Relative to other diseases that we routinely vaccinate against in childhood. Covid-19 is much more impactful.”
Health Canada says it expects Pfizer to submit its data shortly. If all goes well, doctors say there could be a children’s vaccine in the spring.
Resource: CBC News