Aifa has approved the extension of the anti-Covid vaccine also for children between 5 and 11 years old, in relation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Until now, the authorization for vaccines for children had only been approved for those over 12 years old, but after the green light of the EMA for the 5-11 age group, the one from the Italian Medicines Agency has also arrived.
The Pfizer vaccine was tested on about 2000 children in this age group, children not infected with coronavirus, and their immune response, based on the level of antibodies produced, is comparable to that of children between 16 and 25 years old.
How it works for the new age group
For children between 5 and 11 years old, the vaccine will be given in two doses three weeks apart one from the other. It is a specific formulation with a reduced dose. In practice, it will be a dose of one third compared to that given to those who are at least 12 years old
The AIFA also announces that the CTS has only recommended this dose in the pediatric formulation specifies, recommending, when possible, "age-appropriate vaccination courses, separating them from those intended for adolescents and adults".
The effectiveness of the vaccine
The data showed that there is a high level of efficacy in these vaccines and there are no safety warnings. This is what the Commission said, and although the disease is more benign in children, it can sometimes be associated with serious consequences such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-c) that may require intensive care.
The Commission also communicated that the vaccine also brings benefits such as possibility to attend school with more security and have one social life increasingly safe, essential for the psychic development of children.
