First corona vaccine for children? The EU Medicines Agency EMA wants to decide on Friday on the approval of the corona vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer for children from the age of twelve.
Amsterdam – In Germany, the corona vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer * is already approved for people aged 16 and over. The EMA wants to announce this Friday whether the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine called Comirnaty will also be approved for children and adolescents between the ages of twelve and 15. The result of an extraordinary meeting of the EMA Committee on Human Medicine will be presented at a press conference in the afternoon (3 p.m.). The approval decision was originally not expected until June, but the EMA had accelerated the process.
First corona vaccine for children
If the vaccine Comirnaty for twelve to 15 year olds gets the green light, it would be the first corona vaccine for children with EU approval. Once EMA approval is granted, the modified conditional approval will be valid in all 27 EU member states.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended its emergency approval for Comirnaty * to 12 to 15 year olds on May 10.
Biontech vaccine safely protects children from the age of twelve against Covid-19
As early as the spring, the vaccine manufacturer Biontech gave hope that children would be vaccinated quickly. On April 30, the company submitted the application for approval to the EMA. The data from the study were already promising at the time. Now these data have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine .
- As part of the study, 2,260 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 received an injection. 1,131 received the Biontech corona vaccine and 1,129 received a placebo.
- There were 16 corona cases in the unvaccinated placebo group. In contrast, there was no Covid-19 case among the more than 1,000 vaccinated young people.
Side effects after a corona vaccination with Biontech
According to the scientists, the vaccine is well tolerated inside. After the vaccination, there were mainly slight vaccination reactions. More often after the second dose than after the first. There were no serious undesirable side effects such as thrombosis or anaphylactic shock.
- Pain at the injection site in 79 to 86 percent
- Fatigue – at 60 to 66 percent
- Headache – in 55 to 65 percent
Laboratory tests showed that the vaccination produced a stable immune response. It was even better than in the group of adolescents and young adults between 16 and 25 years of age.
Corona vaccinations for children – data on Biontech still too thin?
Experts are still skeptical about the corona vaccine for children. The data situation is still too thin. More than 1,000 vaccinated children and adolescents are only partially meaningful.
The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) in Germany therefore wants to take its time with its recommendation for the vaccination of children from the age of 12. A vaccination, possibly only for previously ill children, could be recommended by the Stiko.
“The data on the risks and benefits of a possible corona vaccination for children and adolescents is currently so inadequate that no recommendation can be made,” said medical president Klaus Reinhardt of the Rheinische Post . This debate is important. Under the heading “Should I have my child vaccinated?” You will find the most important questions and answers at Merkur.de *.
In our news ticker you will find more information about the corona situation in Germany. (afp / ml) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
