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Pfizer: COVID-19 vaccine 91 pct. effective in children age 5-11

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (KUNA) -- Pfizer/BioNTech announced Friday a study that showed smaller doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 appear safe and are nearly 91 percent effective at preventing symptomatic disease.
Pfizer's study was released ahead of a pivotal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel meeting October 26th, where regulators will discuss whether to recommend authorizing the vaccine for younger kids.
The FDA will post its own analysis of Pfizer's safety and efficacy data later on Friday.
If the panel votes favorably, and the agency accepts the recommendations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make the ultimate decision on who should get the shots; FDA determines safety and efficacy, while CDC regulates the actual practice of medicine. If the vaccine is authorized, children could begin getting immunized in early November, with both doses completed in time for Christmas for the earliest ones in line.
The Biden administration has already purchased enough doses for the 28 million children who would be eligible if the vaccine is authorized. (end) rsr.bb