Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine less effective against infection for kids 5 to 11, study suggests – CBC

Results highlight need to study alternative dosing for younger children, researchers say

Feb 28, 2022

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was protective against severe disease in children aged five to 11 during the recent Omicron variant surge, but quickly lost most of its ability to prevent infection in the age group, according to a study by New York State researchers.

The vaccine’s efficacy against infection among those children declined to 12 per cent at the end of January from 68 per cent in mid-December compared to kids who did not get vaccinated, according the study, which has not yet been peer reviewed.

For those aged 12 to 17, the vaccine’s protection against infection fell to 51 per cent in late January from 66 per cent in mid-December.

“These results highlight the potential need to study alternative vaccine dosing for children and the continued importance layered protections, including mask wearing, to prevent infection and transmission,” the researchers said.

The vaccine was around 48 per cent effective in keeping the younger age group out of the hospital, with 73 per cent efficacy against hospitalization among adolescents last month, the data showed.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/pfizer-biontech-covid-vaccine-efficacy-children-1.6367678