After a year of lockdowns and stress, parents who want to vaccinate their kids against COVID-19 will soon be able to do so.
On March 31, Pfizer–BioNTech — which produced the two-dose Pfizer vaccine available for adults — announced the completion of a Phase 3 trial that found the vaccine safe and effective for kids ages 12-15.
The trial examined 2,260 kids, ages 12-15, from the United States. During the trial, 18 cases of COVID were observed in the placebo group compared to zero cases in the vaccinated group.
In addition, those vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine saw a 100% production rate in the antibodies that fight COVID-19, which exceeds the results seen in vaccinated individuals ages 16-25. The data from the report will be submitted for peer review before it can be authorized for use.
The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized in the U.S. for kids ages 16 and older. Pfizer BioNTech has also started global trials to further evaluate the use of the vaccine in kids ages 6 months to 11 years.
Other vaccine manufacturers including Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are also planning to begin trials in children.
You can read the full report about the Pfizer BioNTech trials here. For more information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit our COVID-19 Help page.
