FDA authorizes first pediatric COVID-19 vaccine; CDC to consider next week

The Food and Drug Administration today authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for pediatric use, moving the issue of administration to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for consideration. FDA’s authorization of the Pfizer vaccine, which is for children ages 5-11, heeds the recommendation of its independent advisory committee, made earlier this week. The CDC’s own independent advisers meet Nov. 2 to consider the available data, after which the agency’s director will need to formally sign off before the vaccine can be administered to that age group.