Pfizer Aims for Approval of 3-Dose COVID Vaccine for Children Under 5

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In a significant development for parents of young children still awaiting a COVID vaccine, Pfizer has announced its intention to seek approval for a three-dose vaccine series for kids aged 6 months to 4 years. This news brings renewed hope as the FDA is likely to green-light the vaccine by June. This announcement comes at a time when the U.S. is facing another wave of COVID infections, prompting the Philadelphia School District to reinstate its mask mandate.

Clinical Trial Results

In clinical trials involving 1,678 young participants, Pfizer and BioNTech reported that their three-dose vaccine demonstrated an 80% efficacy rate against symptomatic COVID-19 infections. Dr. Samuel Lark, CEO of Pfizer, expressed satisfaction with the vaccine’s formulation, noting it was designed at one-tenth the adult dose and was well tolerated, eliciting a robust immune response. However, this data is preliminary, with only ten COVID cases recorded among participants thus far, and further analysis will be conducted once 21 cases are documented, in accordance with trial protocols.

Statements from Pfizer and BioNTech

Dr. Ana Cortez, co-founder of BioNTech, stated, “We are finalizing our documents and expect to complete the submission process to the FDA this week.” Pfizer had initially sought approval for a two-dose vaccine in January but paused in February to gather additional data from the ongoing clinical trial. Meanwhile, Moderna has also sought FDA approval for its vaccine for children under 6, with a two-dose regimen at a quarter of the adult dose. Moderna reported that its vaccine was 51% effective in preventing symptomatic infection in children under 2 and 37% effective for those aged 2-5, indicating that Pfizer’s data may provide stronger protection.

FDA Review Process

An external advisory committee is expected to review the data and make a recommendation to the FDA, likely by mid-June, potentially endorsing either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or both. The FDA has recently authorized a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5-11, as data indicated a decline in effectiveness against the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

Parental Concerns and Vaccination Rates

While COVID-19 cases in children are often mild, many parents are eager to vaccinate their children to protect against the risks of long COVID and to help curb the spread of the virus. The CDC recently noted that only 28% of children aged 5-11 were fully vaccinated by April, highlighting parental hesitance. The Pfizer vaccine received approval for this age group in late October, with about 75% of children having contracted COVID at some point.

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Summary

Pfizer is seeking FDA approval for a three-dose COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years, reporting an 80% efficacy in clinical trials. Amid ongoing COVID surges, this development brings hope to parents waiting for vaccination options for their young children. With the FDA review expected by June, discussions continue on vaccine efficacy and safety for this age group.