Employers are Asking | Vaccine for Children | Erin Albert

A question we’re getting asked right now isn’t really for the employees, but for their dependents.

Is the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine effective in children?

This week, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was granted Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA for adolescents aged 12 to 15. The Pfizer clinical trials enrolled 2,260 adolescents 12-15 in the US. In the study, 18 COVID-19 cases were discovered in the placebo group, versus zero who received the COVID-19 vaccine. This compares consistently with those that were studied in the 16-25 age group, after two doses.

Side effects were generally consistent with the 12-15 age group and the 16-25 group. Also similar to the adult experience, most of the side effects were injection site pain, fever- or flu-like symptoms and those generally increased on the second dose.

All participants in the trials will be monitored for the next two years for long-term protection. Pfizer is also working on clinical trials for patients 6 months to 11 years old. Apex will provide more updates on those studies as more information becomes available.

Just a reminder, just like the adults – adolescents will receive two doses of the Pfizer vaccine 21 days apart.

Pfizer also submitted to FDA full approval of their COVID-19 vaccine, which has yet to be determined.

To sign up your child for their COVID-19 shot, visit ourshot.in.gov.

That’s what employers are asking us today. If you have questions you want answered in real time, email us at askapex@apexbg.com.