Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine works very properly in kids aged 12 to fifteen, the pharmaceutical big reported on Wednesday.

In a late-stage trial learning greater than 2,200 adolescents within the US, not a single vaccinated individual grew to become contaminated with COVID-19, Pfizer stated in a press launch. The outcomes recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could also be much more efficient in 12- to 15-year-olds than it’s in adults.

Pfizer has not but launched the trial knowledge. The corporate plans to submit the outcomes to the FDA within the coming weeks, stated chief govt Albert Bourla, “with the hope of beginning to vaccinate this age group earlier than the beginning of the following college 12 months.”

If it wins emergency authorization, Pfizer’s vaccine would be the first in the USA to be given out to kids youthful than 16. Public well being specialists believe that vaccinating kids shall be essential towards attaining “herd immunity” — when so many individuals have immunity to COVID-19 that the virus is not capable of unfold successfully. President Joe Biden has known as for immunizing highschool–age college students by the autumn within the US and elementary college ones early in 2022, if trial outcomes just like the one introduced by Pfizer present the vaccines are certainly secure and efficient amongst them.

Pfizer stated the trial confirmed the vaccine to be secure in 12- to 15-year-olds, with unwanted side effects “usually per these noticed in members 16 to 25 years of age.”

Pfizer’s vaccine was first authorized for emergency use for individuals 16 and older in December, and greater than 75 million doses have been given to Individuals since then. A clinical trial final fall discovered it was 95% efficient in lowering COVID-19 infections in adults; a current examine confirmed comparable 90% effectiveness ends in the “real world” since its authorization.

Within the announcement, Pfizer additionally stated it has began vaccinating kids aged 5 to 11 in a associated world trial and can begin subsequent week giving it to a bunch of youngsters aged 2 to five.