FDA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11

The Food and Drug Administration has already issued emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine for ages 5 to 11 years.

According to FDA Director-General Eric Domingo, it takes into account clinical trials and efficacy rates of the vaccine in children abroad.

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“Mataas din po ang kanyang efficacy rate, above 90% sa mga batang 5 to 11 years old. At the same time, ‘yung nakitang adverse events sa clinical trials ay very mild lang po. Katulad lang ng ibang bakuna na natatanggap ng mga bata – sinat, pananakit sa area ng injection, pero wala pong nakitang any unusual or important safety signals para hindi natin ibigay itong EUA,” said Domingo.

(Its efficacy rate is also high, above 90% in children 5 to 11 years old. At the same time, the adverse events seen in clinical trials are very mild. So just like other vaccines that children receive – fever, pain in the injection area, but we haven’t seen any unusual or important safety signals, so we don’t give it to the EUA.)

The concentration of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines is different for 5 to 11-year-olds, so the country’s supply of vaccines for ages 12 and up cannot be used, even from the same manufacturer.

FDA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11

Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the government has already talked to Pfizer about delivering 15 million COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 to 11 years, expected in the first quarter of 2022.

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“Ibang vaccine po itong gagamitin sa 5-11 na mga bata so they will have to order and procure this separately. Ito po ay mas mababang dosage at ‘yung concentration ng vaccine ay mas mababa din po kesa sa ginagamit ng adults ngayon,” ani Domingo.

(Another vaccine will be used for 5-11 children, so they will have to order and procure this separately. However, this is a lower dosage, and the vaccine’s concentration is also lower than that used by adults today.)

Meanwhile, raised the possibility of making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory as the government intensified its inoculation drive amid the threat of the Omicron variant.

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