Pfizer Covid vaccines for children aged 5-11 reportedly approved by TGA
Children aged 5-11 could be vaccinated against Covid before school returns next year, with a key hurdle about to be cleared.
Health
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The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is expected to announce on Sunday that it has provisionally approved Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine to be administered to children between the ages of five and eleven.
According to News Corp publications, the federal government plans to start rolling out the vaccine to kids in that age bracket from January 10, before school returns. They will receive a smaller dose than those aged 12 and over, about one-third the size.
ATAGI, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, will now consider its advice on how to conduct the rollout.
“As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will act on medical advice to ensure all those who wish to receive a vaccine will have the opportunity to do so, wherever they are across Australia,” said Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Australia is well prepared for any scenario recommended by ATAGI and our government has been working closely with the manufacturer Pfizer, vaccine providers and states and territories to ensure Australian children will have access to this safe and effective vaccine as a priority.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told News Corp the Covid vaccines had “got the rigorous review of Australia’s top health experts”.
“This will mean peace of mind for parents and teachers, knowing children are protected,” the Prime Minister said.
“Ultimately, the more Australians who get vaccinated, the more we can secure our recovery from this pandemic too, with less disruption to schooling and home life.”
More than two-thirds of Australian teenagers between the ages of 12 and 15 are now fully vaccinated against Covid, and three-quarters have received at least one dose.
The double dose rate among people older than 16 is approaching 90 per cent.
The TGA’s decision will make Australia one of the world’s first countries to authorise the Pfizer vaccine’s use for such young children. The shot has already been approved for those aged 5-11 in the United States, Israel and the European Union.
The agency has been considering data from Pfizer’s clinical trials, and has been observing the early results from the US and Israeli rollouts.
At a press conference on Friday, Mr Hunt said he was hopeful the TGA’s approval would come within the next week.
“The Pfizer paediatric doses for 5-11, I’m hopeful within the next week we’ll have a decision from the TGA, and there are no red flags at this stage,” he told reporters.
“It’s heading in a positive direction, but they genuinely are fully independent. And they’ll provide that advice, ATAGI will then provide their response, and we’re hopeful that if we get two green lights we would commence the children’s paediatric doses in the first part of January.”
The Minister was also expecting an announcement on the use of Moderna’s vaccine for booster doses by Christmas. The TGA is currently reviewing data on the use of that vaccine for children aged between six and eleven.
Originally published as Pfizer Covid vaccines for children aged 5-11 reportedly approved by TGA
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