The FDA approves the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 years of age and older

Advisory boards to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday decided that the benefits of jabbing children between five and 11 years old with the Pfizer vaccine outweigh any other health risks.

 

Data from the company's clinical trials found that a pediatric dose of the vaccine - one third of that given to adults and adolescents - was safe and 90% effective.

 

If health officials approve the jab, 15 million doses will go out to pediatric offices, children's hospitals and pharmacies around the country. "Parents need to understand the urgency of vaccination because the pandemic is not over," said Dr James Versalovic, pathologist at chief at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH).

 

Last week, it announced plans to distribute the jabs via more than 25,000 pediatric offices and 100 children's hospitals, as well as through pharmacies, school-based clinics and community health centers.

 

Mass vaccination sites are not good settings for jabbing young children, Ms Knight tells the BBC, so state and local health officials will need to quickly link up with schools, community centers and doctors' offices instead.