Pfizer said Friday it was changing plans and testingĀ three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in babiesĀ and preschoolers instead of the usual two.
The addition of anĀ extra doseĀ came after a preliminary analysis foundĀ 2- to 4-year-oldsĀ didnāt have as strong an immune response as expected to special low-dose shots.
Youngsters under age 2 had similar antibody levels, but the immune response in 2- to 4-year-olds was lower, Pfizer vaccine research chief Kathrin Jansen said Friday in a call with investors.
So the study is being expanded to evaluateĀ threeĀ of those very low-doseĀ shots in children under 5. ThatĀ third shotĀ will come at least two months after the youngstersā second dose.
No safety concerns have been spotted in the study, the companies said.
Pfizer tests extra COVID shot for kids under 5 in setback | AP News
Pfizer said Friday it was changing plans and testing three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in babies and preschoolers after the usual two shots didnāt appear strong enough for some of the children.
Pfizer announced the change after a preliminary analysis found 2- to 4-year-olds didnāt have as strong an immune response as expected to the very low-dose shots the company is testing in the youngest children.
Itās disappointing news for families anxious to vaccinate their tots. Pfizer had expected data on how well the vaccines were working in children under 5 by yearās end, and itās not clear how long the change will delay a final answer.
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said if the three-dose study is successful, they plan to apply for emergency authorization sometime in the first half of 2022.
More @ Source: Pfizer tests extra COVID shot for kids under 5 in setback | AP News
