Good News: Infant & Toddler COVID Vaccine Coming Soon

Good News for parents of infants & toddlers- COVID-19 Vaccine coming soon

Anika H. Ahmed, MD

The world eagerly received the breaking news on Friday, Dec 17^th when Pfizer announced its intention of soon getting approval for a vaccine against COVID-19 for children between six months to five years of age. Pfizer has so far been successful in getting approval from US Food & Drug Administration for vaccine against COVID-19 for people in different age groups. It initially got approval for a two-dose vaccine spaced out over 21 days for adults age 18 years and above with priority being given to the elderly, especially those in community living in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice and private clinics. This was followed by approval of a vaccine to children between 12-18 years of age which was great news for parents who wanted their high schoolers and middle schoolers back in school for in-person classes. Pfizer continued with its research and once again got approval from US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization of the vaccine targeting children in the 5- 15 years bracket. This week on Thursday, the companies filed for full approval of their COVID-19 vaccine with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to include adolescents aged 12 to 15.

Pfizer’s success story continues with yet another successful research on a vaccine that will boost the immune system of infants, toddlers, and children in the range of six months to five years of age. Along with its German partner BioNTech SE stated that they are now in the process of including a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine in an ongoing trial in children six months to under five years of age. The ongoing study now includes a third dose of 3 microgram that shall be given at least two months after the second dose of the two-dose series to provide high levels of immunity to this age group of children, that are prone to many preventable cross infections, especially droplet infections.

If as expected the three-dose study is successful, Pfizer and BioNTech plan to submit their data and findings of the ongoing clinical trial to US Food & Drug Administration for approval to an Emergency Use Authorization for children between six months to five years in the first half of 2022. This shall be by far the best new year gift for everyone across the globe!