And now for the teenagers.
Authorization for Pfizer / BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine has been extended to young people aged 12 to 15 in the United States, the United States Medicines Agency announced on Monday (May 10).
This is "an important step in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic," Janet Woodcock, acting chief of the FDA, said in a statement.
"Our action today allows a younger population to be protected against Covid-19", she added.
The vaccine has so far been authorized as an emergency for people aged 16 and over.
It can now be given to millions more adolescents, as two injections containing the same strength as the vaccine for adults.
“Parents and guardians can rest assured that the Agency has engaged in a rigorous and detailed analysis of all available data,” said Janet Woodcock.
After Canada
Canada on Wednesday became the first country to authorize the remedy for this age group.
President Biden last week underlined the crucial role of adolescent vaccination in the continuation of the American immunization campaign.
After the FDA's approval was announced, "we will be ready to act immediately," he said.
20,000 pharmacies should thus be able to vaccinate adolescents in the coming days, and doses will subsequently be sent to pediatricians, he had detailed.
Two other vaccines are authorized in the United States, those of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, both from the age of 18.
With AFP
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