The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday urgently authorized Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines against covid in infants and younger children, paving the way for the first injections, now almost certain, next week.
Moderna’s vaccine, in two doses, is urgently authorized for children between six months and five years. Pfizer’s, this time in three doses, will be between six months and 4 years. This is the last age group that had not yet received protection in the United States.
The FDA also approved Moderna’s vaccine for children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 at the same time. Pfizer’s was already authorized for 5 years.
“Many parents, caregivers, and physicians have been waiting for a vaccine for younger children, and this action will protect children 6 months of age and older,” FDA Director Robert Califf said in a news release.
“As we have seen in older age groups, these vaccines for younger children will provide protection against the most severe cases of Covid-19, such as hospitalizations and deaths.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will now need to recommend these vaccines before injections can begin.
This final green light will be granted after a meeting of expert members of an advisory committee, which takes place this Friday and Saturday.
But the US government had indicated that, as soon as the FDA issued its decision, some 10 million doses could begin to be shipped in advance to the four corners of the country, and millions more in the coming weeks.
The necessary equipment for injections will also be provided.
