The FDA Has Approved Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine For Children Ages 12 To 15

Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer’s Coronavirus vaccine for children ages 12 to 15. The vaccines emergency use authorization is the first in the United States available for younger teens and adolescents and it had previously been available to people ages 16 and older. The Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are currently only authorized for use in people ages 18 and older. At the end of a clinical trial in March 2,260 12 to 15 year old’s showed the vaccines efficacy rate of 100% and is well tolerated.

Director for the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Dr. Peter Marks said “it was a relatively straightforward decision.” The FDA not only looked at the safety and efficacy data but immune responses of children who were vaccinated and compared them to the immune responses of older teens and adults who also got the shot.  The CDC still needs to review the data which is scheduled for tomorrow and vaccinations may begin as early as Thursday.