Pfizer Begins Testing Covid-19 Vaccine in Children 11 Years Old and Younger

Yesterday, Pfizer announced they were expanding the vaccine trials to include children 11 years old and younger. The company plans to test 4,500 children across 90 sites in the United States, Finland, Poland and Spain. Testing will include children as young as five and use smaller doses than what is authorized for people 12 and older.
Pfizer is also planning to start testing the vaccine in babies as young as 6 months in the next few weeks. Currently Pfizer is authorized in the United States for children ages 12 and older.

Moderna has also announced data for it’s vaccine will be available for children as young as five years old in early fall. The company also plans to apply for FDA authorization for use of it’s vaccine in kids as young as 12 soon. According to data from the CDC, more than 3.5 million people ages 12 to 15 have already received at least one dose of the vaccine and half of those 12 and older have been fully vaccinated. Vaccine advisers of the FDA will meet tomorrow to discuss what information the agency should ask for in considering the go-ahead for vaccinating children under 12.