WHO recommends reduced dosage of Pfizer COVID vaccine for 5-11

Jan 21, Reuters - The World Health Organization recommended extending the use of a reduced dosage of Pfizer's PFE.N COVID 19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11 years old.

The recommendation comes after the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts SAGE on immunisation held a meeting on Wednesday to evaluate the vaccine. It is currently recommended for use in people aged 12 years and above.

The recommended dosage for the younger population is 10 micrograms instead of 30 micrograms offered to those 12 years and older.

This age group 5 -- 11 is the lowest priority use group for vaccination except for children with co-morbidities, SAGE chairman Alejandro Cravioto said at a briefing.

Pfizer BioNTech shots have been authorised for use in the age group in several countries including the United States, Canada, Israel, and the European Union. The WHO's vaccine director, Kate O'Brien, said no safety concerns were raised for Pfizer's vaccine application in clinical trials in 5 to 11 years old.

The panel also recommended booster doses of Pfizer's vaccine be administered in high priority groups like older adults and health workers from 4 months to 6 months after the completion of the primary series.

Countries with moderate to high vaccination rates should prioritize available vaccine supply to achieve high booster dose coverage in higher risk groups before offering vaccine doses to lower risk groups.

Increase in booster dose coverage for high risk priority groups will usually result in a greater reduction in severe disease and deaths than use of equivalent vaccine to increase primary vaccination coverage, Cravioto said.

Cravioto said that the revised roadmap for prioritisation of COVID vaccines took into account the increased availability of vaccines, current coverage and the circulation of variants of concern.

The panel said that the recommendation for use of Pfizer's booster dose was only for certain priority groups and that it was not endorsing unfettered use in all ages.

We don't have evidence yet on the need for boosters in children under 12 years of age, O'Brien said.