FDA Advisors Recommend Covid-19 Vaccines to Kids Ages 5-11

Yesterday vaccine advisers with the FDA voted to recommended Pfizer vaccines to kids ages 5 to 11. With a vote of 17 to 0 and one abstention the board decided to approve the emergency use authorization of the companies coronavirus vaccine to younger children. Members of the FDA’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee agreed the benefits of vaccinating that age group appeared to outweigh the risks but some members were hesitant about vaccinating younger children based on studies that were previously released.

Pfizer has cut it’s vaccine to one-third of the adult dosage for children under 12 and said trials showed the dose protected kids against symptomatic infection and hopes it will cause fewer side-effects. Pfizer Senior Vice President William Gruber said “we think that we have optimized immune response and minimized reactions.” The FDA will take the committee’s vote under consideration and is expected to extend the emergency use authorization in the upcoming days. Vaccine advisors with the CDC are scheduled to meet on November 2 and 3.