In reviewing WHO’s recommendation to provide COVID-19 vaccination to children, the Ministry of Health through the COVID-19 Vaccine Technical Committee has conducted several detailed studies.
By reviewing scientific studies that have been conducted around the world, specifically for children in the age group of 5 to 11; discussions with experts from WHO, medical and health experts from neighbouring countries and medical experts from vaccine manufacturing companies and examine and evaluate the information that has been shared by countries that have implemented the administration of COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11.
Findings of Phase 2 and 3 clinical studies for children aged 5 to 11 have found that the Pfizer Comirnaty COVID-19 Vaccine for children has an effectiveness of 90.9 percent against COVID-19 virus, well tolerated and showed a strong neutralizationantibody response. The data examined did not show any serious effects on children as a result of COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccine has been given Emergency Use Authorization, EUA, for children between the ages of 5 to 11 from the US Food and Drug Authority, FDA, on 29th October 2021 and from the European Medicines Agency, EMA, on 26th November 2021. Although the approval is based on the Emergency Use Authorization, a detailed assessment by the FDA and EMA has confirmed its use by children aged 5 to 11 is safe. With that, the use of the COVID-19 vaccine that is currently used for adults is as a regular vaccine only, and no longer under the control of the Emergency Use Authorization.
Source: Radio Television Brunei