The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for all teens. The United States on May 10 opened the anti-covid vaccination every 12-15 years, marking a new stage in the vaccination campaign. And the first vaccinations for American teens are expected to begin around May 13.

It is not the first country to take this step. On May 5, Canada became the first country in the world to authorize the vaccine for this age group.

Read also: How to find a niche to get vaccinated quickly?

An authorization in June in Europe?

And in Europe? The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently investigating this extension of Pfizer’s vaccine for adolescents. While waiting for this green light, Germany has already announced that it is able to offer anti-covid vaccination to all adolescents over 12 years old. An option that the German health authorities wish to implement “by the end of August“.

The authorization of the EMA could, according to the German Minister of Health, be returned in June.

A vaccine that is 100% effective in adolescents

This authorization will be based, like those of the United States and Canada, on data from a clinical trial by Pfizer and BioNTech laboratories on 2,260 adolescents. According to this trial, the vaccine appears to be 100% effective in 12-15 year olds. It is also well tolerated, with side effects similar to those seen in older people.

Limit transmissions

But why vaccinate adolescents, who usually develop fairly mild forms of covid? First of all because they are not immune to infection, nor from the sequelae that even a mild covid seems to induce.

Secondly, because they actively participate in the transmission of the virus within the population. Their immunization will therefore help to curb the epidemic.

Soon a vaccine for those under 12?

As for those under 12, Pfizer / BioNTech hope to file an emergency authorization request for their vaccine in September for children aged two to 11 in the United States.

The filing of an authorization request for children from six months to two years could intervene “in the fourth quarter“, also declared the boss of Pfizer, Albert Bourla, on the occasion of a conference on the quarterly results of the American laboratory.

In the little ones, “different dosages“, lower, can be used.