US regulators have approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in children as young as 12
The Food and Drug Administration's chief doctor Peter Marks said:"Having a vaccine authorised for a younger population is a critical step in continuing to lessen the immense public health burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."A federal vaccine advisory committee has issued recommendations for using the two-dose vaccine in children aged between 12 and 15 and vaccinations could begin as early as Thursday.
Pfizer senior vice president Dr Bill Gruber told The Associated Press:"This is a watershed moment in our ability to fight back the COVID-19 pandemic." Canada was the first to approve the Pfizer vaccine for those as young as 12 but Pfizer has requested similar authorisation in the European Union.Pfizer has said it will have safety and efficacy data for children aged between two and 11 in September and it plans to ask the US to extend authorisation then.
Around 46% of people in the US have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine but the pace has slowed significantly in recent weeks.
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