Pfizer and BioNTech on Friday asked the Food and Drug Administration to extend the emergency use authorization for the COVID vaccine to cover teens ages 12 to 15.
Why it’s important: The authorization would expand vaccination efforts and accelerate the country’s race toward herd immunity, a goal that will ultimately require vaccination of adolescents and children.
The big picture: A trial of more than 2,200 children between the ages of 12 and 15 found that the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine was 100% effective in protecting against coronavirus.
- “All over the world, we crave a normal life. This is especially true for our children,” Ugur Sahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, said in March.
- Pfizer and BioNTech announced last month that the first doses were administered in a trial for children aged 6 months to 11 years.
In depth: The pandemic affects teenagers