Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine

This week Pfizer and BioNTech announced topline results for the Phase 2/3 trial for their COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 – the first trial to report on results in patients under 12.

This study investigated a lower vaccine dose (10 µg vs. 30 µg approved for adolescent and adult populations) based on the preferred safety, tolerability and immunogenicity profile for children 5 to 11 years of age. The results of this study found the lower vaccine dose, administered 21 days apart, was able to generate a similar, robust antibody response in those aged 5 to 11 vs. that observed for people 16 to 25 years of age receiving the 30 µg dose. A favourable safety profile was also reported.

Currently, Pfizer and BioNTech are seeking approval from health authorities for children aged 5 to 11. We await their decision to see how these results could impact the winter school season and fight against COVID-19 in Canada.