Pfizer, BioNTech delay FDA request for vaccines for children under 5
By Nathaniel Weixel - 02/11/22 01:46 PM EST
Pfizer and BioNTech on Friday said they are delaying their request for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize their coronavirus vaccine for children under five years old, because there's not enough data on the efficacy of a third dose.
An FDA advisory panel meeting scheduled for next week has been postponed, the FDA said.
"Based on the agency’s preliminary assessment, and to allow more time to evaluate additional data, we believe additional information regarding the ongoing evaluation of a third dose should be considered as part of our decision-making for potential authorization," the agency said in a statement.
The decision to extend the data submission and delay the advisory panel meeting pushes back the timeline for authorizing COVID-19 shots for kids under five, a major blow to parents of young kids.
The companies said they don't expect to have three-dose protection data available until early April.
"Cases continue to accumulate according to the study protocol and more data are being generated because rates of infection and illness remain high in children of this age, especially due to the recent Omicron surge," Pfizer said in a statement.
Pfizer earlier this month began applying for emergency use authorization of its vaccine in kids ages six months to four years old. But though the company said three doses will eventually be needed, the application was only for two doses.
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https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/593897-pfizer-biontech-to-delay-fda-request-for-vaccines-for-children-under-5