Pfizer says booster dose increases protection against Omicron in kids aged 5-11
A third dose of Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's Covid vaccine produced significant protection against the Omicron variant in healthy children aged between 5 and 11 years in a trial, the companies said on Thursday.
Blood serum analysis of a few pediatric participants who received a booster dose in the study showed a 36-fold increase in Omicron neutralising antibodies, the drugmakers said.
Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 wild-type strain rose six-fold following the booster shot.
The mid-to-late stage study was testing the safety and immunogenicity of a 10 microgramme booster dose in 140 healthy children aged five through 11 years.
Pfizer and its German partner said the data reinforces the potential function of a third dose of the vaccine in maintaining high levels of protection against the virus in this age group.
The companies plan to apply for Emergency Use Authorisation of a booster dose in the five-11 age group in the coming days, with additional submissions to global regulatory agencies including the European Medicines Agency to follow.
Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration authorised a third dose of the vaccine for children ages 12 to 15 and those aged five through 11 years who are immunocompromised.
The agency at the time said it will weigh boosters for five to 11-year-olds after more children receive two doses.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 8 million children aged between 5 and 11 in the United States are fully vaccinated.
- Reuters
