COVID-19 vaccine invites for 12 to 15-year-olds will start being sent out next week

Booster Shots in Children Ages 5–11 Increase Omicron Antibodies, Pfizer Says

Booster Shots in Children Ages 5–11 , Increase Omicron Antibodies, Pfizer Says. NBC News reports a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine increases antibody protection in children ages 5-11, the company said on April 14. NBC News reports a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine increases antibody protection in children ages 5-11, the company said on April 14. Given half a year after the initial series of two doses, a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine increased antibody levels sixfold. In Pfizer's clinical trial, 140 children ages 5 through 11 received a booster shot. According to NBC News, data has not yet been made available to independent researchers for review. In the era of Omicron, booster doses of COVID vaccines have been hit and miss. In adults, a booster dose of Pfizer's vaccine wanes dramatically after four months. Health experts say the same trends are likely to occur in children. For adults, Pfizer's vaccine is 30 micrograms per dose. For children, vaccines are 10 micrograms per dose. Earlier this year, New York Department of Health researchers found Pfizer's vaccine to offer minimal protection against infection in children. But according to NBC, the CDC later said two doses in children offered ample protection against severe infections. But according to NBC, the CDC later said two doses in children offered ample protection against severe infections

Pfizer’s 3-Dose Vaccine 80% Effective Against Omicron Infection for Youngest Children

Pfizer’s 3-Dose Vaccine , 80% Effective Against Omicron, Infection for Youngest Children. ABC News reports new data shows Pfizer's 3-dose vaccine is 80% effective against omicron infections in children five years old and younger. In all age groups, Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine has been less effective against mild breakthrough infections. but has been shown to offer high protection against severe disease and death. Experts say Pfizer's announcement offers reassurance to parents who wish to protect their children against coronavirus. We are pleased that our formulation for the youngest children, which we carefully selected to be one-tenth of the dose strength for adults ... , statement from Albert Bourla, chairman CEO Pfizer, via ABC News. ... was well tolerated and produced a strong immune response. , statement from Albert Bourla, chairman CEO Pfizer, via ABC News. After two years without a vaccine for young children, many pediatricians and parents intend to vaccinate as soon as possible. However, recent polls have shown over 50% of parents feel they need more information before their children receive a COVID-19 shot. Parents should also be aware that this preliminary data will be supplemented by additional data in June ... , Dr. Alok Patel, pediatric hospitalist Stanford Children's Health, via ABC News. ... which will then be thoroughly reviewed by both the FDA and the CDC. , Dr. Alok Patel, pediatric hospitalist Stanford Children's Health, via ABC News

CDC Signs Off on COVID Vaccine Boosters for Kids Ages 5–11

CDC Signs Off on COVID Vaccine Boosters , for Kids Ages 5–11. CNN reports that on May 19, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)... . ... voted in support of recommending an additional Pfizer shot for 5- to 11-year-olds who've received their first two doses. The vote was 11-1 with 1 abstention. CNN reports that the FDA authorized the booster dose earlier this week. Children within this age group are advised to wait at least five months after receiving their two-dose regimen before getting a booster shot. CNN reports a fourth dose is recommended for children who are immunocompromised. . According to Pfizer, a trial of 4,500 children ages 5-11 showed Omicron-fighting antibodies were 36 times stronger upon receiving a booster. The company also says no new safety issues were detected. On May 16, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that COVID cases in U.S. children rose 76% the previous week compared to two weeks prior. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky gave opening remarks before the ACIP's vote. The sadness I feel for lives lost, the families devastated and the communities changed is steep. We have the tools we need to protect these people from severe disease and prevent any more tragic deaths, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, via opening remarks before the ACIP's vote, via CNN

Pfizer’s COVID Booster Shot for 5 to 11 Year Olds Authorized by FDA

Pfizer’s COVID Booster Shot , for 5 to 11 Year Olds, Authorized by FDA. NBC News reports on May 17, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)... … announced it had authorized Pfizer-BioNTech's coronavirus booster dose for 5 to 11 year olds. The FDA says eligible recipients of a booster dose could receive the extra shot starting five months after their initial two-dose series. Per NBC News, Pfizer's booster shot for 5 to 11 year olds is 10 micrograms ... . ... a third of the dosage given to citizens 12 and older. Following the FDA's ruling, it is now up to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to recommend how to implement boosters for the age group. CDC data shows less than one third of 5 to 11 year olds in the United States have recieved the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine. Experts say booster shots offer better protection against the omicron strain and its associated subvariants. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will reportedly discuss booster shots on May 19. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the Director of the CDC, should have her final recommendation following the committee's discussion

Pfizer's First Quarter Profits Blast Past 2022 Forecast

Pfizer's First Quarter , Profits Blast Past, 2022 Forecast. ABC reports that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and treatment sales helped propel the pharmaceuticals company beyond Wall Street's first quarter expectations. . Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine Comirnaty raked in over $13 billion in sales for the first quarter. . Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine Comirnaty raked in over $13 billion in sales for the first quarter. . The vaccine has remained Pfizer's top selling product for almost the last year. . The drugmaker's pill treatment Paxloid reportedly added an additional $1.5 billion to the company's sales. . ABC reports that Pfizer's, profits grew 61% , in the first quarter. . On May 3, the company posted a net income of $7.86 billion and first quarter adjusted earnings of $1.62 per share. . The results easily exceeded the $1.49 increase predicted by industry analysts. . Compared to the same time last year, the company's revenue skyrocketed 77% , to reach $25.66 billion. . According to ABC, the drugmaker expects the company's total revenue in 2022 to reach between $98 billion and $102 billion. . Pfizer's COVID vaccine launched late in 2020 and quickly became the company's top selling product by the second quarter of 2021. In December of 2021, Pfizer's stock reached an all-time high of $61.71 per share.

Biden Administration Secures 20 Million Courses of Paxlovid

Biden Administration Secures , 20 Million Courses of Paxlovid. Biden Administration Secures , 20 Million Courses of Paxlovid. CNN reports that on April 25, a senior administration official said , 20 million treatment courses of Pfizer's antiviral COVID pill have been secured for the United States to purchase. 100,000 treatment courses will be provided to pharmacies per quarter as need and uptake are observed. . A treatment course of Paxlovid consists of taking three pills twice a day for five days. CNN reports that Pfizer released data last year showing that its antiviral COVID pill reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% if taken within a few day of exhibiting symptoms. Paxlovid first became authorized by the FDA at the end of December. And there were very, very few pills around. The administration worked incredibly hard to both increase production and acquisition, and the good news is we’ve made really substantial progress, Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, to NPR. Now we’ve got to turn those pills into prescriptions and into the things that patients can get so that they can get better if they get infected. We have a big set of efforts that we have been working on and launching, and we’re going to be doing a lot more this week, Dr. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, to NPR. On April 26, the administration is expected to announce expanded access to the pills via its federal antiviral pharmacy program. It is estimated that over 30,000 locations may provide free treatments in the future through the test-to-treat initiative. While the purchase of a significant amount of treatment courses has been secured thus far. CNN reports that the administration "will not be able to purchase more" unless it secures further funding from Congress