Children below 12 years old may soon get vaccinated against Covid-19.
This after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application of Pfizer for its Covid-19 vaccine for children from 5 to 11 years old.
In a television interview on Thursday, FDA Director General Enrique “Eric” D. Domingo said they approved the EUA based on the study of the vaccine expert panel on the use of the vaccine in the United States, Europe and Canada.
“It has a high efficacy rate. 90 percent for children 5 to 11 years old and at the same time there were no adverse events in the clinical trial. Only mild [side effects], only mild fever and soreness in the area where it was injected,” Domingo said.
“There were no unusual or important safety signals for us not to grant the EUA,” he added.
He stressed the Pfizer Covid-19 jab used for the said age group will be different from those used for 12 years old and above.
Additional procurement
The new vaccine, which has the product name Tozinameran, Covid-19 mRNA vaccine has dosage strength of 10 microgram per dose.
“This is of a lower dosage and concentration compared to those used by adults,” Domingo explained.
Domingo said he only informed National Task Force for Covid-19 Chief Implementer Carlito G. Galvez Jr. and the Department of Health (DOH) on the need for the procurement a new batch of Covid-19 vaccine Pfizer if they intend to inoculate those who are 5 to 11 years old.
He noted the current supply of Pfizer Covid-19 jabs of the government could only be used for those who are 12 years old and above.
Kezia Lorraine Rosario of the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) said the proposed procurement is currently under study.
“The number of doses [of the new Pfizer vaccine] which will be purchased is currently being studied. This is being done by our policy team, which procure vaccines,” Rosario said.
“We don’t have yet the exact figure of the amount. We will share it as soon as we have it,” she added.
