U.S. expert panel backs COVID boosters for children 5 to 11

Author of the article: Reuters Manas Mishra and Michael Erman An advisory panel to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday voted to recommend COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for children ages 5 to 11, at least five months after completing their primary vaccination course. The advisers considered data from the CDC…
U.S. expert panel backs COVID boosters for children 5 to 11

Author of the article:

Reuters

Manas Mishra and Michael Erman

An advisory panel to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday voted to recommend COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for children ages 5 to 11, at least five months after completing their primary vaccination course.

The advisers considered data from the CDC that showed protection from the initial two shots starts to wane over time, and that boosters in older age groups improved efficacy against severe COVID and hospitalizations.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for the age group on Tuesday as COVID cases are on the rise again in the United States.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky still needs to sign off on the committee’s recommendation, but signaled at the meeting that she was likely to back the additional shots.

“We know immunity wanes over time, and we need to do all we can now to protect those most vulnerable,” Walensky said. “It’s important for us to anticipate where this pandemic is moving and deploy the tools we have where they will have the greatest impact.”

The U.S. government has been pushing for eligible Americans to get boosted, but fewer than half of those who are fully vaccinated have rolled up their sleeves for an additional shot.

Pfizer said at the meeting that data showed a third dose of its vaccine generated a strong immune response against the Omicron variant in healthy children aged 5-11 years.

The CDC also presented safety data showing that the incidence of heart inflammation after vaccination in the age group was significantly lower than in adolescents and young adults.

Just over 29% of U.S. children ages 5-11 are considered fully vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot. The vaccine is not yet authorized for children younger than 5.

The vaccine committee voted 11 to 1 to recommend the additional shots, with one doctor abstaining.

Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot, a professor at Vanderbilt University, was the lone committee member to vote against recommending the boosters, arguing that the focus should be on increasing the vaccination rate in the age group.

“Boosters are great once we’ve gotten everyone their first round,” she said.

Companies are already looking into the possible need for redesigned COVID-19 vaccines for the fall to target new variants of concern.

CDC scientist Dr. Amanda Cohn said redesigned vaccines may not be available for children right away because the pediatric shots are a different formulation than what would be given to adults.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New Jersey; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

Financial Post Top Stories

Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

Read More

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Posts
Stock Market Faces Earnings Shock as Economy Falters: MLIV Pulse
Read More

Stock Market Faces Earnings Shock as Economy Falters: MLIV Pulse

Don’t let optimism among equity analysts fool you: Earnings forecasts are likely to be slashed as spiraling inflation and rising interest rates put the brakes on spending. Author of the article: Bloomberg News Joe Easton and Michael Msika nfbhur83ef7z6gfgq94ob8i]_media_dl_1.png Bloomberg RSS (Bloomberg) — Don’t let optimism among equity analysts fool you: Earnings forecasts are likely…
Danaher to spin off environmental & applied solutions unit
Read More

Danaher to spin off environmental & applied solutions unit

Author of the article: Danaher Corp said on Wednesday it would separate its environmental & applied solutions (EAS) segment to pivot growth towards the medical technology firm’s life sciences and diagnostics businesses. Danaher insider Jennifer Honeycutt, who joined the company in 1999, will become the president and chief executive officer of the new publicly traded…
South Korea warns of action over won’s plunge
Read More

South Korea warns of action over won’s plunge

Author of the article: SEOUL — A senior South Korean official warned of action on Thursday if the won moved on speculative bets, local media reported, two days after the currency tumbled to its weakest in more than 13 years against the U.S. dollar. “The authorities would take action in a timely manner if herd…