U.S. Purchases Additional 50 Million Pediatric Doses Of Covid-19 Vaccine, Pfizer Says
Topline
The U.S. authorities has bought a further 50 million doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s pediatric Covid-19 vaccine, the 2 firms announced Thursday, as regulators are poised to inexperienced mild the shot to be used in kids as younger as 5.
The U.S. authorities bought a further 50 million doses of Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine, which is … [+]
AFP through Getty Pictures
Key Info
The extra doses will assist the federal government’s preparations for widespread pediatric vaccination, the businesses stated, which is able to cowl kids as younger as 5 if accepted by regulators.
BioNTech and Pfizer count on to ship the doses by the tip of April 2022.
The photographs—one third the power of these supposed for individuals ages 12 and up and meant to be used in kids aged 5-11—full the U.S. authorities’s 600 million dose buy settlement it made with Pfizer and BioNTech at first of the pandemic, the businesses stated.
U.S. regulators are poised to clear the vaccine to be used in youthful kids and trial knowledge suggests the vaccine generates a “sturdy immune response.”
Key Background
Whereas kids and youngsters have a a lot decrease likelihood of growing extreme sickness or dying from Covid-19, they’ll and do develop life threatening sickness and die from Covid-19. The Meals and Drug Administration advisory committee overwhelmingly voted in favor of approving the vaccine to be used in kids—17 members endorsed the shot, one abstained—paving the best way for the shot to be cleared by the FDA and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. The White Home says it’s ready to distribute vaccines as quickly because the shot is allowed, anticipated to be round early November.
Huge Quantity
28 million. That’s what number of kids might be eligible for the Covid-19 shot if it’s accepted for five- to 11-year-olds, in response to the White House. Earlier than the extra purchases, officers stated the U.S. stated it already had “sufficient provide to assist vaccination” on this group, which might be delivered with smaller needles extra appropriate for youngsters.
Tangent
Moderna introduced Monday it plans to submit knowledge by itself pediatric vaccine to regulatory companies after a scientific trial confirmed it to generate a robust immune response in kids aged six to 11.
Additional Studying
Right here’s How The White Home Plans To Distribute Kids’s Covid Vaccines (Forbes)
FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Authorizing Pfizer’s Covid Vaccine For Children Ages 5 To 11 (Forbes)
What COVID vaccines for young kids could mean for the pandemic (Nature)
Moderna Says Its Covid Shot Generates ‘Robust’ Immune Response In Children Aged 6-11 (Forbes)
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