Pfizer/BioNTech want COVID vaccine approved for teenagers in EU

Pfizer/BioNTech said Friday they have asked European regulators to authorise their COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds, a move seen as a crucial step toward achieving herd immunity.

The companies already filed a similar request with US authorities earlier this month. Their vaccine is currently only approved for use in people aged 16 and over.

In a joint statement, Pfizer and BioNTech said they had submitted a request with the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) to expand the use of their jab to include "adolescents 12 to 15 years of age".

Ugur Sahin, co-founder and CEO of Germany's BioNTech, on Thursday said the jab could be available for those age groups from June if EU approval is granted.

The move comes after phase 3 trial data showed that the vaccine provided "robust antibody responses" and was 100% effective in warding off the disease among those aged 12 to 15.

"The vaccine also was generally well-tolerated," the statement added.

In an interview with Der Spiegel weekly, Sahin said he expected regulators' evaluation of the data to take four to six weeks.

If approved, the green light would apply to all 27 European Union member states. 

Pfizer and BioNTech...