Pfizer Seeks FDA Approval For COVID-19 Vaccine For Children Under 5

Pfizer and BioNTech will seek emergency authorization from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their COVID-19 vaccine to be administered for children under 5 in November, Pfizer’s Chief Financial Officer Frank D’Amelio said at an industry conference on Tuesday.

Pfizer has also previously revealed that the company is preparing to file for emergency use authorization for children ages 5 to 11 by October.

Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla also said that the company plans to release clinical trial data on its COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy for children under five as early as the end of October.

“Then, it is up to the FDA to take their time and then make a decision,” Bourla said during an interview during a research forum.

The company’s announcement comes as parents become more anxious about vaccinating their children, as kids are going back to schools while the delta variant continues to surge.

Meanwhile, several states controlled by GOP governors are banning schools from mandating mask rules.

Earlier this month, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) has started to withhold the salaries of school officials who refuse to follow his executive order banning them from mandating mask rules in their school districts.

The CDC has amended its guidelines recently to recommend that all students and teachers wear masks in the classroom.

Article by Dongyoon Shin