Pfizer To Test Third Dose Of Covid Vaccine For Children Below 5 Years
NDTV
Pfizer therefore decided to modify its clinical trials to include a third dose, injected "at least two months after the second," the company said in a press release.
Pfizer announced Friday that it wants to test a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in the under-fives, as the low dosage such small children can handle may not offer the same protection that older children enjoy from just two shots.
The company does not expect the change to affect its plans to file for emergency use authorization in the United States in the first half of next year.
As part of its ongoing clinical trials, the pharmaceutical giant has selected a dosage of three micrograms per injection for children aged six months to less than five years. This is 10 times less than the 30 microgram doses given to adults, and significantly less than the 10 micrograms given to five to 11 year olds.
In children in the two to five year age group, a dosage of 10 micrograms caused more fever than in the older groups, pushing the company to select a lower dosage.
