[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the 30th of last month (local time) for approval of an mRNA vaccine booster shot for adolescents aged 16 to 17.
According to AFP and Bloomberg News, Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, stated on Twitter that day, "We have applied to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of booster shots for adolescents aged 16 to 17." He added, "We hope to provide strong protection to as many people as possible, especially in light of the emergence of new variants."
Experts are concerned that the protective effect generated by the currently used vaccines may be partially compromised, considering the mutation patterns found in the Omicron variant.
The U.S. government currently allows COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 5 and older, but booster shots are only available for those aged 18 and above. For those 18 and older, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be administered as a booster six months after the second dose, and the Janssen vaccine can be given two months after the initial dose.
If the FDA accepts Pfizer's application, it will be the first approval of a booster shot for those under 18.
So far, more than 200 Omicron variant infections have been confirmed in 20 countries worldwide, but no cases have yet been reported in the U.S.
U.S. health authorities consider it a matter of time before infections occur domestically and are urging all adults to receive booster shots.
Many experts support booster shots for adolescents, stating that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, but some express concerns about rare side effects such as myocarditis.
Viney Prasad, a biostatistics and epidemiology expert at the University of San Francisco, said on Twitter, "If the FDA approves booster shots for adolescents, it will be a complete gamble."
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