FDA authorizes first shots of COVID-19 jabs for kids aged 5 to 11

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Washington DC
Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine to innoculate the kids aged 5 to 11.

The Pfizer and BioNTech Jab, however, will still need recommendations from the United States Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) before being made available to immunize children.

Pfizer announced on Saturday that it would begin distributing pediatric vials of the vaccine to pharmacies, physicians' offices, and other locations where the doses will be administered.

The FDA decision is likely to make the vaccine available to 28 million American youngsters, many of whom are returning to school for face-to-face instruction.

It comes after a panel of the regulator's experts unanimously recommended permission on Tuesday.

Only a few other nations, notably China, Cuba, and the United Arab Emirates, have approved Covid-19 vaccines for infants this age or younger.

A lower dose, according to FDA panelists, might help lessen some of the unusual negative effects. They focused their attention during the meeting on the rate of cardiac inflammation, or myocarditis, which has been related to vaccinations from both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, particularly in young males.

The agency stated on Friday that the proven and prospective benefits of the Pfizer vaccine outweigh the risks in children aged 5 to 11.

The FDA has approved a new version of the vaccine for pediatric use, which employs a novel buffer and may be stored in freezers for up to 10 weeks.

In a clinical study of children aged 5 to 11, Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine demonstrated 90.7 percent effectiveness against the coronavirus.

Publish : 2021-10-31 11:36:00

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