Pfizer and BioNTech, which produced the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the U.S., say they will expand ongoing trials to include a third dose for children as young as 6 months old.
Omicron has many more mutations than previous variants of concern, a fact that raises questions about how effective existing vaccines will be against the new form of the coronavirus.
The companies studied a 10 microgram vaccine dose in children 5 to 11, a third of the dose used for adults, to minimize side effects and because it still prompts a strong immune response.
Pfizer and BioNTech say that early trial results show their vaccine established a strong antibody response against the coronavirus. FDA review is still needed.
The Pfizer mRNA vaccine is now not only safe and effective against COVID-19 serious illness and death: It’s also fully FDA approved.
Dr. Cecil Bennett of Newnan says the most important thing is to listen to patients who have not yet been vaccinated and try to understand their concerns.
The FDA has authorized storing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at refrigerator temperatures for up to a month. Previously the vaccine could only be kept in a regular fridge for up to 5 days.
A new Harvard poll shows that only half of Americans trust the CDC — other health agencies were rated even lower. During a pandemic, trust is critical to the success of a public health response.
Agency officials said reducing the number of doses creates a potential for harm in patients because "they may assume that they are fully protected when they are not" and may "take unnecessary risks."
D.C.'s mayor urged the federal government to send more medicine to no avail. Now the states are sharing their supply to vaccinate health care workers who work in the capital but live elsewhere.
