BIONTECH-PFIZER SAY THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE IS 100% EFFECTIVE ON 12-15 YEAR OLDS

In the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Pfizer said Wednesday its Covid-19 vaccine was 100% effective in a study of adolescents ages 12 to 15. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that the company plans to submit the new data on the vaccine as soon as possible with the hope that kids in the age group will be able to get vaccinated before the next school year. The trial enrolled 2,260 participants in the United States. There were 18 confirmed Covid-19 infections observed in the placebo group and no confirmed infections in the group that received the vaccine, the company said. The company also said the vaccine elicited a robust antibody response in children, exceeding those in an earlier trial of 16- to 25-year-olds. Moreover, the shot was also well-tolerated, with side effects generally consistent with those seen in adults. Meanwhile, researchers reported high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, somewhat higher than were seen in studies of young adults. Kids participating in the trials had side effects similar to young adults. The main side effects are pain, fever, chills and fatigue, particularly after the second dose. Thus, vaccinating children is crucial to ending the pandemic, public health officials and infectious disease experts say. The nation is unlikely to achieve herd immunity until children can get vaccinated.