Pfizer and BioNTech said on Wednesday that a clinical trial showed their COVID-19 vaccine was 100% effective in preventing the disease in adolescents aged 12 to 15..
The companies said the results, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, were based on a trial of more than 2,200 adolescents. They said the vaccine was also well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain..
The companies said they plan to submit the results to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming weeks for authorization to use the vaccine in adolescents. They also said they are planning to start a clinical trial of the vaccine in children aged 6 to 11 in the coming months..
The news comes as the U.S. is facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly among younger people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported last week that the number of COVID-19 cases among adolescents aged 12 to 17 increased by 31% in the past week..
The CDC recommends that all people aged 12 and older get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine that is currently authorized for use in adolescents in the U.S..
The news of the vaccine’s efficacy in adolescents is a positive development in the fight against the pandemic. It suggests that the vaccine can help protect adolescents from the virus and prevent the spread of COVID-19..
Here are some additional details about the clinical trial:.
* The trial was conducted at 30 sites in the U.S. and included 2,260 adolescents aged 12 to 15..
* The participants were randomly assigned to receive either the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or a placebo..
* The vaccine was administered as two doses, 21 days apart..
* The participants were followed for up to two months after the second dose..
* The vaccine was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in the participants who received the vaccine..
* The vaccine was well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain..
The results of the clinical trial are encouraging and suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is safe and effective for use in adolescents. The FDA is expected to review the results of the trial in the coming weeks and make a decision about whether to authorize the vaccine for use in adolescents..
