Apr 9, 2021 - Health

Pfizer asks FDA to expand COVID vaccine authorization to adolescents

Shawna Chen

Photo of a masked nurse administering a vaccine to a masked teenager — Photo: Matthew Hatcher via Getty Images

Pfizer and BioNTech asked the Food and Drug Administration Friday to expand the emergency use authorization of its COVID vaccine to cover adolescents ages 12–15.

Why it matters: The authorization would broaden vaccination efforts and speed up the country's race to herd immunity, a goal that will ultimately require teenagers and children to be vaccinated as well.

The big picture: A trial of more than 2,200 children between the ages of 12 and 15 found that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was 100% effective at protecting against the coronavirus.

"Across the globe, we are longing for a normal life. This is especially true for our children," Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, said in March.
Pfizer and BioNTech announced last month that the first doses were administered in a trial for children ages 6 months to 11 years.

Go deeper: The pandemic's toll on teens

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Pfizer asks FDA to expand COVID vaccine authorization to adolescents

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