FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for children ages 12 to 15

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of its Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents age 12 to 15 today, according to the New York Times.

Authorization is given for the vaccines after clinical trials are completed on thousands of people to determine their safety and effectiveness. The emergency use authorization allows the vaccines to be distributed during public health emergencies despite not having full approval.

Pfizer and BioNTech enrolled 2,260 children ages 12 to 15 in a clinical trial that included a placebo group and a group that received the vaccination, according to the New York Times. There were 18 cases of symptomatic coronavirus in the placebo group and none in the vaccinated group.

Next the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory panel will meet and decide whether to recommend the use of the vaccine in adolescents. If the committee recommends the vaccines, immunizations can begin immediately, according to the Times.

Pfizer-BioNTech also plans to apply for emergency authorization for its Covid-19 vaccine to be used in children ages 2 to 11 in September.