Pfizer and BioNTech request EUA for COVID-19 vaccine in young children

Pfizer and BioNTech have officially asked for that their COVID-19 vaccine be cleared for use amid young small children.

In a tweet Thursday, Pfizer stated the companies submitted their ask for for an unexpected emergency use authorization (EUA) of their vaccine to the U.S. Foods and Drug Administration. They are looking for clearance for it to be applied amid small children aged 5 to 11 decades previous.

The ask for for EUA will be evaluated all through an impending Vaccines and Relevant Organic Products and solutions Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting on October 26.

“We know from our broad working experience with other pediatric vaccines that small children are not tiny older people, and we will perform a comprehensive evaluation of scientific trial facts submitted in assistance of the security and performance of the vaccine applied in a more youthful pediatric populace, which may need a unique dosage or formulation from that applied in an older pediatric populace or older people,” Acting Food and drug administration Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock stated in a assertion.

WHY THIS Issues

The EUA submission will come as no surprise since the companies stated they would request regulatory acceptance “as quickly as attainable” final month when they unveiled vaccine facts amid small children aged 5 to 11.

The facts showed that a lesser dose of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine elicited a equivalent antibody response and experienced comparable facet results as found in people 16 to twenty five decades of age.

As observed in Pfizer’s tweet, COVID-19 circumstances amid young small children are on the rise. During the 7 days of September 30, 173,469 boy or girl COVID-19 circumstances were claimed, representing 26.7% of all circumstances recorded that 7 days, in accordance to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In the two-7 days period of time prior to September 30, there was a 7% maximize in the cumulative number of boy or girl COVID-19 circumstances since the beginning of the pandemic, the AAP observed.

“With new circumstances in small children in the U.S. continuing to be at a high stage, this submission is an vital stage in our ongoing effort and hard work from #COVID19,” Pfizer stated in its tweet. “We are dedicated to doing work with the Food and drug administration with the ultimate intention of aiding safeguard small children from this critical community overall health danger.”

THE Larger Trend

In August, Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine became the initially to receive comprehensive acceptance from the Food and drug administration. The vaccine is now promoted as Comirnaty and is approved for the prevention of COVID-19 for individuals 16 decades previous and older.

The companies have also gotten a EUA for a booster shot of Comirnaty amid specified populations, this kind of as individuals sixty five decades of age and older, men and women eighteen by way of 64  at high risk of extreme COVID-19 and individuals aged eighteen by way of 64 whose occupational exposure locations them at high risk of critical troubles of COVID-19.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have also submitted requests to the Food and drug administration for booster shot EUAs. The VRBPAC has scheduled conferences for October 14 and fifteen to examine attainable booster shot approvals.

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