GlobalHealth Threats

20 October: A real-world study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report has found the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be highly effective at preventing hospitalisation among 12-18-year-olds in the United States. For the study period from 1 June to 30 September 2021, data for 464 people aged 12 to 18 years who were admitted to hospital was evaluated. Of these 179 had COVID-19 and 285 were admitted for some other condition. From the 179 COVID-19 cases, six were vaccinated (3%) and 173 (97%) were unvaccinated. All cases who were admitted for intensive care treatment, critically ill or the two people who died occurred in unvaccinated people. The length of hospital stay was also longer at 5 days for unvaccinated people, compared to 3 days for vaccinated people.

Delta was the predominant variant in circulation during the study. Vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for COVID-19 infection was 93%.

The authors conclude that receiving “2 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provided a high level of protection against COVID-19 hospitalization” and “reinforces the importance of vaccination to protect U.S. youths against severe COVID-19.”

27 May: A study published in NEJM has reported on safety and efficacy results of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in adolescents. Data was analysed from 2,260 enrolled participants across the United States. Similar side effects as seen in other age groups were noted; pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache. No serious adverse events occurred. Vaccine efficacy was 100% in the trial; no COVID-19 cases occurred from seven days after the second dose in the vaccinated group, while 16 infections were reported in the placebo group.

The report concludes “The BNT162b2 vaccine in 12-to-15-year-old recipients had a favorable safety profile, produced a greater immune response than in young adults, and was highly effective against Covid-19.”

13 May: The CDC Director has approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents aged 12-15 years and states the “CDC now recommends that this vaccine be used among this population, and providers may begin vaccinating them right away.”

12 May: As expected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) advisory committee met today and endorsed the use of the Pfizer vaccine among 12-15 year olds. Final approval, to be granted by CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, is expected today or early tomorrow.

10 May: Following in Canada's footsteps, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use among people ages 12 to 15. (It was already approved for 16 and older.) The known and potential benefits of this vaccine outweigh the known and potential risks, per the FDA. The data showed the vaccine was 100 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among adolescent trial participants. Safety data showed the most common side effects in the age group were were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain. These were more common after the second dose, and mirror the experience of people over 16 who have received the vaccine. The CDC vaccine advisory committee meets Wednesday to vote on using this vaccine among 12-15 year olds.