CNN News: Pfizer and BioNTech seeking emergency use authorization from FDA for Covid-19 vaccine for children younger than 5

Pfizer and BioNTech have requested emergency use authorization from the FDA to be able to administer the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months up to 5 years. The FDA’s vaccine committee is set to meet on February 15 to discuss this submission.  According to Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the committee and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the principal point of discussion is going to be safety and effectiveness, namely the presence of a robust efficacy and immunogenicity profile. The decision comes in response to the recent data by the American Academy of Pediatrics that reported over 3.5 million cases in January 2022 alone. Children made up 22.8% of the total reported weekly cases for the week ending January 27, 2022. In December 2021, In December, Pfizer extended its vaccine trial in younger children after two child-sized doses of the vaccine did not produce the expected immunity, prompting the company to add a third dose to their trials. Read the full article here