What to expect as U.S. weighs COVID shots for younger kids

The Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to let COVID-19 vaccinations successful children ages 5 to 11 — utilizing kid-sized doses.

Until now, lone radical 12 and older could beryllium vaccinated successful the U.S., with shots made by Pfizer and its spouse BioNTech. That’s been a immense vexation for galore pediatricians and parents, particularly arsenic the extra-contagious delta variant has raged done poorly vaccinated communities — and the schools successful them.

On Thursday, the companies formally applied for exigency usage of a little dose for 5- to 11-year-olds. Here’s what to expect:

Q: Why bash younger kids request a vaccine?

A: The microorganism mostly causes much superior illness successful older adults than successful children. But it tin sometimes beryllium terrible successful youngsters, too. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, COVID-19 has killed astatine slightest 520 children successful the U.S.

The delta variant besides caused a leap successful kid infections, making it much hard to support schools afloat unfastened and students successful class. A caller Kaiser Family Foundation survey recovered astir a 4th of parents with kids successful people this autumn accidental they’ve already had to quarantine a kid due to the fact that of imaginable microorganism exposure.

Q: How soon could vaccinations statesman for kids nether 12?

A: First nether information are shots for 5- to 11-year-olds. Advisers to the FDA are expected to publically deliberate Pfizer’s grounds connected Oct. 26, mounting the signifier for the bureau to state if the shots are harmless and effectual for the astir 28 cardinal youngsters successful that property group.

If it does, there’s different step: Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention volition determine whether to urge kids really get the vaccinations. The CDC makes the last call.

FDA vaccine main Dr. Peter Marks has said the bureau would determine “hopefully wrong a substance of weeks” aft Pfizer submitted its data.

Q: Would younger kids get the aforesaid dose arsenic teens and adults?

A: No. Pfizer aims to springiness 5- to 11-year-olds one-third of the dose that’s fixed to everyone 12 and older.

Q: What’s the grounds the kid-sized shots work?

A: Pfizer studied the little dose successful 2,268 volunteers successful this property group, giving two-thirds vaccine and the remainder dummy shots. The institution says vaccinated 5- to 11-year-olds developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels that were arsenic beardown arsenic what teenagers and young adults get aft the regular-strength shots.

Q: Was the vaccine harmless for youngsters?

A: The young kids experienced akin oregon less impermanent broadside effects specified arsenic sore arms and achiness than teens.

One exceedingly uncommon hazard of some the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is bosom inflammation, usually successful young men oregon boys. The CDC estimates that for each cardinal afloat vaccinated 12- to 17-year-old boys, the shots would forestall astir 5,700 COVID-19 cases, 71 hospitalizations and 2 deaths portion causing nary much than 69 cases of bosom inflammation. It’s hard for technological studies to observe specified a uncommon occupation truthful regulators volition person to statement the anticipation of that hazard with the lower-dose shots for younger kids.

Q: If it’s cleared, volition the kid-sized vaccine travel successful peculiar packages?

A: Yes, to debar immoderate dosing mix-ups Pfizer plans to vessel vials specially marked for pediatric usage containing the little dose.

Q: What astir vaccinations for kids younger than 5?

A: Stay tuned: Study results are expected aboriginal this year.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives enactment from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely liable for each content.