The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to 12 to 15-year-olds.
The FDA said it had determined that Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine met the statutory criteria to amend the Emergency Use Authorization, and that the known and potential benefits of this vaccine in individuals 12 years of age and older outweigh the known and potential risks, supporting the vaccine’s use.
Pfizer announced in March that data from a phase 3 trial showed the vaccine was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in adolescents.
The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are only authorized for people 18 and older.
Experts say vaccinating children will be crucial to reaching herd immunity in communities across the state and country.
Today, FDA expanded the EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of #COVID19 to include adolescents 12-15 years of age. FDA amended the EUA issued on Dec. 11, 2020 for administration in individuals 16 years of age and older. https://t.co/3ROLW8WXwL pic.twitter.com/d9zwg7BS4q
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) May 10, 2021
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