Pfizer asks for COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds: What parents should know?

 

Pfizer asks for COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds: What parents should know?

 Pfizer asked for an emergency approval vaccine in children ages 5 to 11.

The FDA will discuss this matter on October 26 to examine the application.

The schedule means vaccine shots for children ages 5 to 11 may be available by early November.

Here are facts about COVID-19 vaccines and children as families strive to make the decisions.

 Pfizer and Moderna companies use mRNA technology that does not enter the nucleus of cells and does not alter human DNA. Instead, it sends out a genetic "instruction" that prompts cells to make proteins that resemble the virus's outer surface - a way for the body to learn and develop defenses against future infections.

This type of Ebola vaccine is licensed and has been extensively studied for other diseases and affects pregnant or breastfeeding women.

None of these vaccine platforms can cause COVID-19.

2. What is the eligibility status for children to be vaccinated?

Pfizer's request for emergency use authorization means COVID-19 vaccine shots for children ages 5 to 11 may be available by early November.

Moderna applied for its teen vaccine in June but is still waiting for a decision. The company said it would provide vaccine safety data for children ages 5 to 11 this fall.

The timing of the vaccine for children younger than 5 isn't specific, but officials said they hope to get a green light for toddlers and babies soon after.

Pfizer said the results of two other ongoing trials -- one for children aged two to five years and one for children aged six months to two years -- are expected later this year.

3. Why do children need to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

Although there are not as many deaths from COVID-19 among children as adults, especially adults in high-risk groups, children can still contract the virus and, most importantly, can transmit the virus to adults.

"There are two main reasons children need to get the vaccine," Dr. Jennifer Ashton, chief medical correspondent for ABC News, explained.

"It's important to think about cascading effects outside the box," Ashton added. "You don't just have to worry about your home environment."

4. Will children have the same side effects of the vaccine as adults?

In September, Pfizer shared clinical trial data that showed the vaccine was "safe, well-tolerated and showed strong neutralizing antibody responses" in children ages 5 to 11.