CDC Recommends Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended Pfizer and BioNTech’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 11 years of age.

The organization now expands vaccine recommendations to nearly 28 million children in the US in this pediatric age group, allowing providers to begin vaccinating them as soon as possible. 

“Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our nation’s fight against the virus that causes COVID-19,” Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, said in the announcement. 

“We now have recommended that about 28 million children receive a COVID-19 vaccine. As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated,” Walensky continued. 

The recent spread of the Delta variant elicited a surge of COVID-19 cases in children. During a six-week period from June to August, coronavirus hospitalizations among children and adolescents increased fivefold. 

At the end of September, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that two doses of their COVID-19 vaccine were 90.7-percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in children five to 11 years of age.  

In the trial, 2,268 pediatric patients received a 10-microgram dose of the vaccine in a two-dose regimen. The SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibody geometric mean titer was 1,197, demonstrating a strong immune response one month after the second dose.

Notably, vaccine side effects were mild and similar to those seen in adults. These trial results are the first from a pivotal trial of a COVID-19 vaccine in this age group.

Based on these positive results, FDA granted emergency use authorization to the vaccine for children five through 11 years of age at the end of October. 

ACIP stated that getting children vaccinated helps protect them against COVID-19 and reduce disruptions to in-person learning and activities by helping curb community transmission. 

Distribution of pediatric vaccinations across the country started earlier this week, with plans to scale up to full capacity starting the week of November 8th.