Pfizer Inc has said that it is going to test its COVID-19 vaccine in a larger group of children below 12 years of age after selecting a lower dose in an earlier stage of the trial.

The study is set to include around 4,500 children across over 90 clinical sites in the United States, Finland, Poland and Spain. On the basis of safety, tolerability and the immune response observed among 144 children in a phase I study of the vaccine, the company is gearing to evaluate a dose of 10 micrograms in children aged 5 to 11 years, and a dose of 3 micrograms in those aged 6 months to 5 years.

Pfizer expects data from the group of 5- to 11-year-olds in September and would possibly seek emergency use authorization later in that month. Data from children aged 2 to 5 years could be obtained soon after that, stated a company spokesperson. Data from the age group of 6 months to 2 years is expected in October or November… (Reuters, June 8, 2021)