Pfizer Just Postponed Their FDA Request for The Covid Vaccine for Kids Under 5

If you are a parent that has been anxiously awaiting news on an approval for the covid vaccine for kids under 5, you’ll be waiting longer.

The Covid vaccine for kids under 5 was originally supposed to be approved and ready to go in the next coming weeks.

But, when the vaccine trials didn’t go well back in December, Pfizer had to scramble to figure out what to do next.

Pfizer already made it clear that they did not want to increase the dose given to children in this age group but instead wanted to try a 3rd shot. Meaning, there would be 3 micro-doses given to kids in this age group.

And now, Pfizer is saying that because they won’t have that data back until April, they are postponing the FDA’s approval.

Pfizer said that the company will wait for its data on a three-dose series of the vaccine, because it believes three doses “may provide a higher level of protection in this age group.”

As of right now, Pfizer’s vaccine for under 5 has a dosage of 3 micrograms. For children ages 5 to 11, the dosage is higher, at 10 micrograms.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said Friday that after regulators reviewed the company’s two-dose data, they decided they needed to see the three-dose data before considering authorization.

Parents should be “reassured,” Marks said, adding the agency takes its “responsibility for reviewing these vaccines very seriously because we’re parents as well,” he said. (Source)

So, if you’re a parent to a child in this age group just know, there won’t be any information in April when trial results are in and then we will see how that plays out.

Personally, as a mother to a 3 year old, I am glad they aren’t rushing this and are trying to get it right. I guess only time will tell.