According to the company, Pfizer’s vaccine is safe and effective in children as young as 12 years old. The majority of COVID-19 vaccines being distributed globally are for adults, who are more vulnerable to the coronavirus. The vaccine is only available to people over the age of 16. Pfizer hopes to begin vaccinating this age group before the beginning of the next school year in the United States.
Other companies are attempting to lower the age limit for their vaccine in other countries as well. According to Pfizer, the most common side effects are pain, fever, chills, and fatigue, especially after the second dose. According to Dr. Philip J. Landrigan of Boston College, the study’s findings are encouraging, but it’s difficult to get kids to comply with masking and distancing.
Children account for approximately 13% of COVID-19 cases reported in the United States. Children are far less likely to become seriously ill from the flu than adults. It is unclear how quickly the FDA would respond to Pfizer’s request to allow vaccination beginning at the age of 12. In the last five years, at least 268 people have died from the virus in the United States, with over 13,500 hospitalized.
According to preliminary data from a Chinese company, the vaccine is safe for children as young as three. “We yearn for a normal life. This is particularly true for our children “Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech, made the announcement in a statement.
Source: CTV