Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine Is Effective in Kids 5 to 11 Years Old—What This Means

It is the news that many parents have been waiting for—according to trial data, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and well-tolerated in kids ages 5 to 11 years. 

In a press release, Pfizer and BioNTech revealed that the antibody response and side effects in this age group were similar to ones seen in older people.

The trial included more than 2,000 children, who were each given two smaller doses of the vaccine than those given to people 12 and older. The companies said that it produced antibody responses and side effects in children that were comparable to those seen in a study of people 16 to 25 who received the full dose of the vaccine.

Pfizer and BioNTech submitted their data to the FDA for emergency use authorization and received approval on November 2. They also have a trial underway for kids under 5, which they expect to see results from by the end of the calendar year. 

Rising COVID-19 Cases in Children 

COVID-19 cases have surged in the U.S. in recent months. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 6.5 million children in the US have tested positive for COVID-19 (the equivalent of around 16% of all cases) as of November 11, 2021.

“It is important to remember that many school-age kids under twelve years of age are still not eligible for vaccination, and many school districts are not mandating masking for in-person learning,” says Vidya Mony, DO, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California. 

Dr. Mony also points out that many of the schools across the nation didn’t open until after Labor Day. “We generally see infections about two weeks after the opening of in-person schools, and that is currently what we are still seeing now,” she explains. “It is also important to note that the majority of cases are coming from the states with the lowest vaccination rates.” 

The Importance of Vaccinating Kids 

“Viruses mutate in unvaccinated individuals,” Dr. Mony says. “If the country from which the Delta variant originated had a large vaccinated population, then the mutations may possibly have still occurred, but it most likely would not be as contagious as we know it is.”

If an individual is vaccinated, it allows less chance for mutation, which means less chance of new variants arising. “Only vaccinating adults will not help to end this pandemic, as adults are not the only group that’s affected by this virus,” Dr. Mony says. “Since all age groups are affected, all age groups should get vaccinated once it is approved for their age.”

As a parent herself, Dr. Mony can understand parents who have concerns about the safety of the vaccine for their kids. “The important thing to remember is that before anything can get approved, there are many steps and multiple experts that separately review the data and bring up concerns as needed,” she says. 

Carol Winner, MPH, public health expert and founder of the social distancing brand Give Space, also understands that making critical healthcare decisions for our children can be fearful and difficult.

“Our children have paid the biggest price in this pandemic, with so much uncertainty and isolation, and now we can work to ensure the safety of our 5- to 11-year-olds,” Winner says.