News

FDA says benefits outweigh risks for Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children

FDA says benefits outweigh risks for Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children

(VOVWORLD) - Scientists at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday that the likely benefits of giving the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to 5 to 11 year olds clearly outweigh the risks of rare cases of heart inflammation.

A12-year-old girl receives a first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at a Los Angeles County mobile vaccination clinic in May, 2012. (Photo: AFP)

Earlier on Friday, the vaccine makers said their shot showed 90.7% efficacy against the coronavirus in a clinical trial of children 5 to 11 years old.

The details were in briefing documents published ahead of a meeting of a panel of outside experts scheduled to vote on Tuesday whether to recommend the FDA authorize the shots for the young age group.

If the FDA authorizes the Pfizer/BioNTech immunization for children 5 to 11 years old, it would be the first COVID-19 vaccine for the age group and shots could be available in the United States in early November.

Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been linked to rare cases of heart inflammation called myocarditis, especially in young men.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.