The European regulator gave this Wednesday the “green light” for the use from six months of the Pfizer and Moderna anticovid vaccines, which become the first authorized for children under five years of age in the European Union.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended “the use in children from six months to four years of (vaccine) Comirnaty”, from Pfizer, and “Spikevax”, from Moderna, up to the age of five, indicates a statement from the European Union . regulator. .
The use of these vaccines was already authorized, respectively, for those over five and six years old, so both authorizations now define the minimum age limit at six months. The doses of the two vaccines for these younger age groups will be weaker, explains the EMA note, adding that Comirnaty can be administered in the primary vaccination in three doses and Spikevax in two doses.
The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded that the “benefits” of those vaccines “outweigh the risks”, adding that side effects are generally mild or moderate and of short duration.
The EMA also recommended the use of an adapted Moderna vaccine targeting Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 variant sublines, in addition to the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, in adults and children over 12 years of age with primary vaccination against COVID. -19.
Omicron and its strains dominated this year, quickly replacing the previous Alpha and Delta variants.
The CHMP’s recommendations will now be passed on to the European Commission, which will make the final decisions to be applied in all EU member states, the note says.
The EMA warned last month that the Covid-19 pandemic continues and urged countries to create vaccine booster programs before winter.
Source: TSF
