Pfizer, BioNTech seek U.S. emergency nod for COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents

Reuters

Published Apr 09, 2021 02:19PM ET

(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) and its German partner BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) said on Friday they have requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expand the emergency use of their COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents aged 12 to 15.

In March, the drugmakers said the vaccine was found to be safe, effective and produced robust antibody responses in 12- to 15-year olds in a clinical trial.

Whether COVID-19 vaccines work and are safe to use on children is one of the big questions drugmakers are trying to answer. Inoculating children and young people is considered a critical step toward reaching "herd immunity" and taming the pandemic, according to experts.

The companies plan to request similar rulings by other regulatory authorities globally in the coming days.