UAE authorizes Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Health and Prevention of United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.

The move is supported by clinical data and is based on results of clinical studies and careful assessment in compliance with approved regulations and after approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The health ministry said that the results of clinical studies indicated that Pfizer vaccine is safe and gives a strong immune response in children aged 5 to 11.

Moreover, the decision represents a critical stage that boosts the prevention of novel coronavirus in this age group.

The ministry also announced that it will begin providing the booster doses for people who received the Pfizer-BioNtech and Sputnik vaccines.

The booster shot will be given to all in the 18 to 49 age group, and frontliners aged 18-59.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 170 children aged 5-11 have died of coronavirus.  

Earlier, Pfizer said that a clinical trial showed its vaccine provides more than 90% protection against symptomatic disease among children, even at one-third the dose, and the company hopes the lower dose will reduce the risk of any side effects.

The United States is also planning to distribute vaccines to children and will administer as soon as the CDC gives green signal.

Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine was previously authorized for children ages 12 to 15. The vaccine is approved for people age 16 and older.