Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age.
The FDA amended the emergency use authorization originally issued on Dec. 11, 2020, for administration in individuals 16 years of age and older.
“Today’s action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic. Parents and guardians can rest assured that the agency undertook a rigorous and thorough review of all available data, as we have with all of our COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D.
From March 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, approximately 1.5 million COVID-19 cases in individuals 11 to 17 years of age have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Children and adolescents generally have a milder COVID-19 disease course as compared to adults. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is administered as a series of two doses, three weeks apart, the same dosage and dosing regimen for 16 years of age and older, according to the news release.
The FDA determined the vaccine has met the statutory criteria to amend the emergency authorization, and that the known and potential benefits of this vaccine in individuals 12 years of age and older outweigh the known and potential risks, supporting the vaccine’s use in this population.
“Having a vaccine authorized for a younger population is a critical step in continuing to lessen the immense public health burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “With science guiding our evaluation and decision-making process, the FDA can assure the public and medical community that the available data meet our rigorous standards to support the emergency use of this vaccine in the adolescent population 12 years of age and older.”
The FDA has updated the Fact Sheets for Healthcare Providers Administering the Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) and for Recipients and Caregivers with information to reflect the use of the vaccine in the adolescent population, including the benefits and risks of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
Read the complete news release here.
From what I’ve read, the risk of being unvaccinated are worse than the risk of being vaccinated. I’ll trust the doctors rather than the conservative pundits.
Again with the lies that the vaccines are experimental and does not cause serious disease in the young. What motivates you to repeat dangerous nonsense?
Edit
… and *the virus* does not cause …
A feeble attempt at paltering, 9:23. COVID is more serious in older adults, so to prevent deaths on a scale even more massive than we did, its use in that demographic was prioritized at first. That doesn’t mean we should just let younger people suffer death and serious disability now, does it? Maybe in your politically warped sensibilities, it does.
I’m thrilled that the vaccine around the country is working to stop the spread. And I am happy to do my part for the greater good. Thanks Trump and Operation Warp speed for making this happen.
LOL, two out of three ain’t bad.
What action did Biden actually taken? Vaccine distribution was in full swing already, he signed a partisan $1.9 TRILLION covid relief bill with only about 1/2 going to actual covid relief and no requirement for schools to open fully to get funding, and doesn’t exactly set a good example to the vaccine hesitate by wearing masks on zoom calls and outside with other fully vaccinated people. Oh, he ordered more shots… but of course my wife gives me no credit for “getting the groceries” when I just place an instacart order.
hahahahah @VOR. You’re ridiculous.
LCP, bahahhahahah so good. You two need to take this act on the road.
You can laugh but you can’t answer.
Haha! You keep going, too good man, too good.
There are billions of unvaccinated people who are reservoirs for the virus all over the world. Even if we vaccinated every American, it would make little difference. There has also been some concern that animals could be reservoirs for the virus too, which would make it even more difficult to eradicate the virus. There are already reports that some of the mutant strains are becoming resistant to the existing vaccines, and the vaccine manufacturers are talking about producing annual booster shots. It seems unlikely the existing vaccines will be able to eradicate covid in this country, let alone globally. It will be interesting to see how the virus mutations evolve and how long the vaccines remain effective.
Kind of reminds me of this article. Funny how things have changed.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cuomo-says-he-ll-withhold-vaccine-from-ny-until-he-says-it-s-safe/ar-BB1ab1c0
Hilarious, right Chip?! To think that someone might threaten and fire scientists if they don’t push through a vaccine for a virus that never existed but then did exist and wasn’t that bad and then that person caught it and almost died from it but the election was a hoax and scientists are all democrats so don’t get the vaccine but then get it secretly and not tell anyone. Inconceivable, no sane person would ever do or say those things. You’re hilarious! hahaha.
The vulnerable can be vaccinated and made no longer vulnerable.
Thanks Sac. Indeed, it was a herculean effort for all involved.
hahahahaha. Brilliant.
hahahaha. in response to the person who keeps laughing. hahahah. Real insightful conversation.
Over 500,000 dead citizens of the US who died unnecessarily disagree with you.