(RxWiki News) Children younger than 5 years old may be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine soon.
In fact, they may be eligible to receive it as early as the end of February.
That's according to several recent reports in major news outlets. According to The New York Times, Pfizer was expected to ask the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize its two-dose vaccine for use in children as young as 6 months old.
The company was reportedly still studying the effectiveness of a three-dose course of the vaccine in children.
News reports stated that Pfizer was expected to ask the FDA to approve the vaccine for young children via an emergency use authorization (EUA).
An EUA is not the same thing as a full FDA approval. It means the vaccine would still be under study for its safety and effectiveness, although an EUA suggests that the approved treatment or vaccine appears safe and delivers more benefit than possible harm.
Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in children ages 5 and up. Ongoing research has been assessing the vaccine in children of all ages, including those younger than 5.
According to The New York Times, more than 19 million Americans are younger than 5 years old. That means a possible approval for this age group could significantly increase the percentage of the population that is vaccinated against COVID-19.
Health officials maintain that vaccination is the best way to prevent infection with COVID-19. If you have any questions, reach out to your community pharmacist or doctor.
