Pfizer Request Authorization for COVID 19 Vaccine Booster Shots in Kids Below 10

• Pharmaceutical companies in the United States have requested an emergency authorization for COVID 19 vaccine booster doses for children

• Data shows that a third dose increases the Omicron-fighting antibodies as opposed to two doses

• A booster shot for children between 5 and 11 will increase their immunity against COVID 19

Pharmaceutical companies have submitted a request to the Food and Drug Administration to authorize the administration of the third booster dose of the COVID 19 vaccine for children.

The request follows the submission of a report obtained by Pfizer-BioNTech. The report contained data about the clinical trial analysis that was conducted on approximately 140 children between the ages of 5 and 11.

Phase 2/3 of the clinical trial was conducted about 6 months after the second dose of the COVID 19 vaccine was administered to children of ages 5 to 11. The children who participated in the trial received a third 10-μց booster dose.

The analysis was conducted by Pfizer-BioNTech to show the safety of the third booster dose on children and it showed positive results.

According to some experts, immunity to vaccines wane in both adult and children over time, and it is in their best interests to maintain their immunity by collecting booster shots.

The data obtained demonstrated that a third booster dose increased the omicron-fighting antibodies in children as opposed to only 2 doses. It also showed the potential of maintaining high levels of protection against the virus.

The data also indicated a 36-fold and 6-fold increase in the neutralizing antibody titers of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and SARS-CoV-2 wild-type strains respectively.

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An adviser to the Food Administration Agency, however, maintains that the previous doses given are enough to protect everyone irrespective of age.  It added that the administration of a third dose of the COVID 19 vaccine could be considered when the need arises.

Currently, the third booster dose is only authorized for children of ages 12 and older while the initial two doses of the vaccine were authorized for children between ages 5 and 11.

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