Coronavirus

FDA Advisers Approve Pfizer's Covid-19 Vaccine For Children Ages 5-11, Setting the Stage for Availability in November

Experts on a panel called the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, which has been advising the Food and Drug Administration, on Tuesday voted 17-0, with one abstention to recommend that the FDA approve Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, setting the stage for use as early as next week. The panel concluded that the benefits outweighed any risks, and U.S. health officials have said widespread availability is expected in November. About 28 million children in the U.S. and its territories would be eligible. “Severe pediatric Covid is not nearly as common as in adults, but it does happen and it’s not negligible,” said Dr. Ofer Levy, a panel member and director of the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children’s Hospital (via the Wall Street Journal). “I think this vaccine will likely be effective in reducing pediatric Covid in this age group, and may also help reduce transmission.” The FDA must clear a vaccine before it can be used outside of test...