Pfizer/BioNTech Say Covid Vaccine is Safe for Kids Aged 5-11

Pfizer Inc and BioNTech announced on Monday that their COVID-19 vaccine can now be administered to children between 5 and 11 years of age. The vaccine has proven to induce a robust immune response according to latest reports.
The company is now seeking authorization to be able to administer the vaccine in children in the U.S, Europe and other countries. During phase two and three chemical trials, the vaccine generated an immune response which was previously only seen in 16 to 25 year olds.
Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said, “Since July, pediatric cases of covid-19 have risen by about 240 percent in the US, underscoring the public health need for vaccination. These trial results provide a strong foundation for seeking authorization of our vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, and we plan to submit them to the FDA and other regulators with urgency.”
In recent months, Covid related hospitalizations and deaths have increased dramatically in the U.S, mainly due to the emerging Delta variant. A rise in pediatric cases was also seen among unvaccinated children. This led to the increased need for vaccination among younger children for which a rapid authorization is now needed. This could help reduce infections to a great extent in the U.S Prior to this, vaccination was only allowed for children above the age of 16.
The vaccine has been authorized for use in many countries and has recently received full approval in the 5-11 age group. Data is yet to be collected and revealed to show how well the vaccine actually works. Experts at Pfizer have said that they will later disclose the efficacy rate of the vaccine among children as for now they do not have enough participants. It is important to note here that the vaccine showed an efficacy rate of 95% in the adult clinical trial.