Pfizer requests FDA approval to vaccinate kids as young as 12

Pfizer BioNTech submitted a request for the FDA to grant emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine to vaccinate kids aged 12-15.

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"This is very exciting news, the sooner we can get safe, effective COVID vaccines into as many people of all ages as possible, the closer we get to overcoming the pandemic and COVID," said Dr. Michael Gutzeit, Chief Medical Officer at Children’s Wisconsin.

"There is a very thorough and rigorous process to ensure that the process is safe as well as the vaccine is safe," he said. "The information that Pfizer has collected will be shared with the FDA and the CDC and both of those organizations have internal processes, multiple steps, checks and balances to ensure data submitted is accurate, that it reflects the actual safety of the vaccine and will result in a vaccine that is effective and safe."

Gutzeit said vaccinating children will help the community get back to normal. Currently, there is a rise in COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin.

"We have seen over the past several weeks that there has been an increase in the number of COVID positive cases especially in the 14-17-year-olds in the pediatric age group, and this is concerning," he explained. "We do know that the variants seem to affect kids and cause infection in kids."

So far Pfizer is the only dose 16 and 17-year-olds can receive.

In the past week, 10% of kids in that age group received their first dose in Wisconsin.

Although children have not been considered high-risk in the past, Gutzeit still urges parents to discuss the vaccine with their kids, and their kid's doctors.

"As a pediatrician, I really, truly believe that the best treatment is prevention, and vaccines are one of the most effective ways to provide protection, not only for those who are at-risk, but also people who are healthy, and allow them to continue to remain healthy," Gutzeit said.

Gutzeit said it's hard to come up with a timeline for when the FDA could approve the vaccine for use.

"We don’t want to rush that process we want to make sure that process is followed the appropriate checks and balances that are in place are there," he said.

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