It can be difficult to explain to children young things like social distancing and masks. The need for vaccines increases in such situations. The company is currently preparing to apply for approval to use the vaccine in Europe or America.
All vaccines that protect against the coronavirus are now available and vaccination is moving fast across India, as well as the rest of the world. The concern for the children’s health has been a major concern. Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE announced on Monday that their Covid-19 vaccine has shown a strong effect on children aged 5 to 11 years.
The company is now preparing to apply to have it used in Europe and America. According to the company, the vaccine was tested in Phase II-III clinical trials. Immune responses were observed in children between 5 and 11 years old. This is similar to the response seen in people aged 16-25 years. It can be difficult to explain to children young things like social distancing and masks. This is when vaccines are more important.
It is possible to make the decision soon
The safety profile of the vaccine was found to be comparable to older adults during the trial. According to US health officials, regulators can decide on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in three weeks. Data from tests on 2,260 children aged 12-15 years showed that there were no corona infections after the complete vaccination. So it was considered 100% effective.
Many successes were had, but some left
Comirnaty, the vaccine developed by the company, has been approved for use in several countries, including the USA. It can be used on up to 2268 children under the age of 12. People over 16 years old were previously allowed to use it. Children aged 5-11 years received 2 doses of 10 micrograms each of the vaccines during the trial. It is currently being tested on children aged between 2 and 5, as well as 6 to 12 months old, for a maximum of two years.
What is the Pfizer vaccine?
Pfizer’s vaccine is mRNA-based. It is found in the liposomes and not the virus vector. The mRNA has a limited life span and is inactive in the host cells. The liposomes and mRNA will both move to the host cells. Instead of the nucleus, it will be recognized in the cytoplasm by ribosomes. This will result in a protein similar to SARS-CoV-2’s spike protein. It will be delivered to the plasma membrane of host cells.
Higher doses needed
This protein will be recognized by the immune system and an immune response will result. The immune system will make a mental note of the sequence so it can be used later to deal with a SARS/CoV-2 infection. This sequence is permanent and the genetic material from the mRNA vaccine will not remain in the host cells for too long. This type of vaccine has one problem: high doses are required to provide complete protection.
Pfizer and Moderna are being used in many countries already to treat adolescents and adults over 12 years old. While the risk of severe covid is very low in children, the contagious delta coronavirus variant has been raised in recent years. The importance of vaccination of children is being recognized to open schools and control the epidemic. According to the company, they have already received regulatory approval for their coronavirus vaccine after a series of trials.
The vaccine produced strong immune responses in children between five and eleven years old. He stated that the vaccine would not be administered to children less than 12 years of age at a lower dose.
In a joint statement, Pfizer (the US-based pharmaceutical giant) and its German partner stated that the vaccine is safe and well-tolerated in children aged 5-11 years. It also strengthened antibody responses.
They now plan to submit their data as soon as possible to regulators in the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world. These test results are first-of-their-kind for children younger than 12.
The vaccine was approved by the company for use in 2268 children less than 12 years of age, including many in the US. The vaccine was previously allowed to be used for people older than 16. Children aged 5-11 years received 2 doses of 10 micrograms each of the vaccines during the trial. It is currently being tested on children aged between 2 and 5, as well as 6 to 12 months old, for a maximum of two years.
