So far, the effectiveness of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 has only been tested on adults. After an initial test run on teenagers, the pharmaceutical companies are now investigating the safety and efficacy of their vaccine on significantly younger people. 

Pfizer / BioNTech start clinical trial involving young children

The Mainz-based company BioNTech and its US partner Pfizer will now join competitors Moderna and AstraZeneca to begin testing its coronavirus vaccine on younger children. “Together with our partner BioNTech, we have administered a dose to the first healthy children in a global ongoing phase 1 / 2 / 3 study,” Pfizer said in a statement on Friday. 

The purpose of the trial is to investigate how safe, tolerable and effective the shot is in children aged between six months and 11 years of age. They will test three different dosages on a cohort of around 4.500 children, to see which is the most effective among younger patients. Previously, the company tested its mRNA vaccine on adolescents aged between 12 and 15. 

Vaccine could be rolled out to children early next year

“We are proud to conduct this much-needed study for children and families eagerly awaiting a potential vaccination option,” said Pfizer. They added that they were hoping that the vaccine could be rolled out to younger age groups from the beginning of next year. 

Children are generally spared from severe courses of COVID-19, but there have been isolated cases of serious infections and even deaths. Despite earlier hypotheses to the contrary, there is also a growing batch of evidence suggesting that children can be carriers of the virus. In order to achieve herd immunity, therefore, it may be necessary to also vaccinate children.