Pfizer and Biontech have announced that they will apply to the US FDA = Food and Drug Administration to extend the target age for vaccination against the new coronavirus to children aged 5 to 11 years.
Regarding this, experts said that it is meaningful to be able to take one measure to deal with infections at schools, etc. Yes, it is important to have a family doctor who is familiar with your physical condition. "
Pfizer, a major American pharmaceutical company, and Biontech, a German company, have confirmed that vaccination has increased neutralizing antibodies and the safety of children aged 5 to 11 years, who are no longer eligible for the new coronavirus vaccine. As a result, it has announced that it will soon apply to the FDA = Food and Drug Administration in the United States to extend the vaccination coverage to children in this age group.
Regarding this, Tetsuo Nakayama, a specially appointed professor at Kitasato University who is a pediatrician and familiar with vaccines, said, "There is one way to deal with infections at school, after-school care, and lessons. Is meaningful. "
"There are no strange data in overseas clinical trials, and it is not a dangerous vaccine for children. Even if it is overseas, if the data is solid and the epidemic continues, it is domestic. Isn't it necessary to force clinical trials? "
On the other hand, Professor Nakayama said, "In the United States, the vaccination rate is sluggish in society as a whole, and the number of clusters in schools is increasing, so it seems that even elementary school students are required to be able to inoculate. Even in Japan, inoculation is a high priority for children with underlying diseases, but most healthy children are mildly infected even if they are infected. Some children are prone to wake up. Parents need to understand and be convinced to receive the vaccination, and it is important to have a family doctor who is familiar with the usual physical condition when inoculating. " Did.
In the US, it will expand to 12 to 15 years old in May, and in Japan after about 3 weeks
The new coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and Biontech was expanded to 12 to 15 years old in May in the United States, and in Japan, about three weeks later, it was inoculated in this age group. started.
Pfizer and others announced on March 31 that they confirmed the safety and efficacy of inoculation for 12 to 15 years old as a result of clinical trials, and after that, the US FDA to include this age group as well. = I applied to the Food and Drug Administration.
In response, the FDA expanded the scope of emergency use permits on May 10, and vaccinations of this age began in the United States on May 13.
In Japan as well, after Pfizer submitted data on overseas clinical trials to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare decided to add 12 to 15 years old to the age at which vaccination is possible on May 28, specializing in After reporting at the family subcommittee, on May 31, it became a target of public inoculation and the inoculation started.
According to Pfizer's press release for vaccinations between the ages of 5 and 11, 2268 people of this age were given 2 vaccines containing one-third the usual amount of the component in clinical trials in the United States and elsewhere. One month after the vaccination, the value of the neutralizing antibody that suppresses the action of the virus was examined, and it was confirmed that a strong immune response was confirmed.
Neutralizing antibody levels were the same as when 16 to 25 years old were given the usual dose of the vaccine, and the side reactions were about the same, Pfizer said in the future. We will submit the data to and apply to expand the coverage from 5 to 11 years old.