FDA sees growing pressure to authorize vaccines for children under 12

FDA sees growing pressure to authorize vaccines for children under 12 Pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is shifting to vaccine authorization for children under 12, now that the Pfizer vaccine has been fully approved for adults. Peter Sullivan TheHill

With children going back to school and the delta variant raging, some experts and lawmakers are calling for the agency to act with more urgency and to clarify its timeline for authorizing a COVID-19 vaccine for children, given that none is currently available for those under 12. 

More than 100 House lawmakers wrote to the FDA last week asking for an update on its timeline for vaccines for children, given the current “alarming” situation. . . 

While children generally fare better than older people, they are not totally immune. 

The AAP reported 180,000 new COVID-19 cases among children and adolescents in the week ending Aug. 19.