EU gets its first COVID vaccine for Kids as Pfizer's jab for 12-15 year-olds gets approval

In a major development in war against COVID-19 pandemic, European Medicines ncy on Friday recommended  use of Coronavirus vaccine me by Pfizer and BioNTech be expanded to children s 12 to 15, a decision that offers younger and less at-risk populations across continent access to a COVID-19 shot for first time during pandemic.

Marco Cavaleri, who hes EMA body that reviewed vaccine, said regulator h received necessary data to authorize vaccine for younger teens and found it to be highly effective against COVID-19. decision needs to be rubber-stamped by European Commission and individual national regulators, he said, as reported by AP. 

tably, it will be first COVID vaccine for kids d from 12 to 15 years. COVID vaccine for kids is significant as various reports h suggested that COVID's third wave may affect children - though this is in way a certainty, as per AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria. Apart from Pfizer, Bharat Biotech's Business Development and International vocacy He Dr. Raches Ella informed about  possible commencement of pediatric trials of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin from June. 

recommendation follows similar decisions by regulators in Cana and U.S. last month, as some countries slowly approach ir vaccination targets for ults and look to immunize as many people as possible. EMA's recommendation that vaccine's authorization be expanded to children was based on a study in more than 2,000 olescents in U.S. that showed vaccine was safe and effective. Researchers will continue to monitor shot’s long-term protection and safety in children for ar two years.

Most COVID-19 vaccines worldwide have been authorized for ults, who are at higher risk of severe disease and death from coronavirus. But vaccinating children of all s could be critical to stopping outbreaks, since some research has shown older children may play a role in spreing virus even though y don’t typically fall seriously ill. 

Pfizer Says Its Vaccine Works Against COVID's B.1.617 Strain, For 12+ Group

As vaccine giant Pfizer is still in talks with India over COVID vaccine supply, it has told Indian authorities that its jab has shown "high effectiveness" against SARS-CoV-2 variant prevalent in India and on people of Indian ethnicity or nationality, while it is suitable for everyone d 12 years or above and can be stored for a month at 2-8 degrees. 2-8 degrees stor is a gamechanger as previously vaccine was said to only be storable at a much lower temperature that's colder than most standard refrigerators and cold stor can provide.

Pfizer, which is rey to offer 5 crore doses to India between July and October this year and has sought certain relaxations including indemnification, has held a series of interactions with Indian government authorities recently including one this week, during which it shared most recent data points regarding efficacy trials and approvals for its vaccine in various countries and by World Health Organisation (WHO).

" current situation in India, and across world, is t business as usual and we must t respond to it with processes as usual too," a source quoted Pfizer as having communicated to Indian government reported by PTI. 

(Im Credits: AP)

(Story Inputs: AP)