Kids, the ones who are unvaccinated, remain at higher risk. The Covid-19 is spreading faster than expected. Citizens who have been vaccinated are breathing relaxing air but the citizens who are yet to be vaccinated are on the edge of catching the virus. These citizens especially include young kids.
Doctor Scott Gottlieb, a member of the board in Pfizer, has stated his expectation regarding the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine for kids aged between 5 and 11 years. As per his expectations, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) might give emergency usage clearance to the vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech by the winter of 2021.
Covid-19 Vaccine For Kids Is Expected To Be Launched By The Winter Of 2021
The possibility of the Covid-19 vaccine getting the approval from FDA for an emergency by the later fall is also very much positive.
Whether a Covid-19 vaccine will be launched or not and when it will be launched will depend on the data that the company sends to FDA. The clinical trials are still being conducted. The data for these clinical trials is expected to be available in September 2021. This, however, would not be enough to get things going.
Once the data is sent to the FDA, the committee would take some time before approving it. This, as per the reports, can take up to 4 weeks. The department may take a maximum of 4 weeks to approve the emergency usage when the data is sent to the department.
Doctor Anthony Fauci, the Chief Medical Advisor in the White House, has expressed his expectations on the lines that are similar to Doctor Scott Gottlieb.
Pfizer BioNTech is currently in the lead. Johnson & Johnson and Moderna are yet to receive approval for emergency usage on kids under 18 years. These companies hold emergency use approval only for the population that is aged 18 years and above. Pfizer BioNTech has recently received approval for being administered to anyone above the age of 16.
Johnson & Johnson is currently running its single-dose across the United States of America. Moderna, on the other hand, is offering two doses to the citizens. Again, these are currently under emergency usage only.
Young kids are at high risk as the schools have started reopening. Online teaching is fading out and kids are being asked to attend live lectures. They may be less vulnerable as compared to people who are aged 65 years or more, but they can still be carriers of the Covid-19 virus. This puts everyone at risk. The virus may not harm kids but it can pass onto an adult who can then suffer from Covid-19.
One of the best ways to prevent this from happening is for adults to get vaccinated. This would help to control the spread of the virus.
Can The Timeline Change?
Yes, the timeline can change and there is no question about it. The launch date of September 2021 is merely an expectation based on the current situation.
The Delta Variant is on the rise. Its high transmission rate is affecting a large portion of the population. If this continues or gets worse, then the vaccine may be launched earlier for emergency use among kids.
On the flip side, it may take more time to get the vaccine on the market. There is a chance that the FDA might want to have a follow-up period of 3-6 months before getting the vaccine out for emergency use.
Covid-19 vaccine for kids aged 5 years or less is expected to be launched by November 2021. This would be on an urgent basis only.
