COVID-19
Pfizer Says COVID-19 Vaccine Works in Kids Ages 5 to 11
Published
5 years agoon
NEW YORK (AP) – Pfizer said Monday its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.
The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is available for anyone 12 and older. But with kids now back in school and the extra-contagious delta variant causing a huge jump in pediatric infections, many parents are anxiously awaiting vaccinations for their younger children.
For elementary school-aged kids, Pfizer tested a much lower dose — a third of the amount that’s in each shot given now. Yet after their second dose, children ages 5 to 11 developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teenagers and young adults getting the regular-strength shots, Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer senior vice president, told The Associated Press.
The kid dosage also proved safe, with similar or fewer temporary side effects — such as sore arms, fever or achiness — that teens experience, he said.
“I think we really hit the sweet spot,” said Gruber, who’s also a pediatrician.
Gruber said the companies aim to apply to the Food and Drug Administration by the end of the month for emergency use in this age group, followed shortly afterward with applications to European and British regulators.
Earlier this month, FDA chief Dr. Peter Marks told the AP that once Pfizer turns over its study results, his agency would evaluate the data “hopefully in a matter of weeks” to decide if the shots are safe and effective enough for younger kids.
An outside expert said scientists want to see more details but called the report encouraging.
“These topline results are very good news,” said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. The level of immune response Pfizer reported “appears likely to be protective.”
Many Western countries so far have vaccinated no younger than age 12, awaiting evidence of what’s the right dose and that it works safely. Cuba last week began immunizing children as young as 2 with its homegrown vaccines and Chinese regulators have cleared two of its brands down to age 3.
While kids are at lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, more than 5 million children in the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began and at least 460 have died, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cases in children have risen as the delta variant swept through the country.
“I feel a great sense of urgency” in making the vaccine available to children under 12, Gruber said. “There’s pent-up demand for parents to be able to have their children returned to a normal life.”
In New Jersey, 10-year-old Maya Huber asked why she couldn’t get vaccinated like her parents and both teen brothers have. Her mother, Dr. Nisha Gandhi, a critical care physician at Englewood Hospital, enrolled Maya in the Pfizer study at Rutgers University. But the family hasn’t eased up on their masking and other virus precautions until they learn if Maya received the real vaccine or a dummy shot.
Once she knows she’s protected, Maya’s first goal: “a huge sleepover with all my friends.”
Maya said it was exciting to be part of the study even though she was “super scared” about getting jabbed. But “after you get it, at least you feel like happy that you did it and relieved that it didn’t hurt,” she told the AP.
Pfizer said it studied the lower dose in 2,268 kindergartners and elementary school-aged kids. The FDA required what is called an immune “bridging” study: evidence that the younger children developed antibody levels already proven to be protective in teens and adults. That’s what Pfizer reported Monday in a press release, not a scientific publication. The study still is ongoing, and there haven’t yet been enough COVID-19 cases to compare rates between the vaccinated and those given a placebo — something that might offer additional evidence.
The study isn’t large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that sometimes occurs after the second dose, mostly in young men. The FDA’s Marks said the pediatric studies should be large enough to rule out any higher risk to young children. Pfizer’s Gruber said once the vaccine is authorized for younger children, they’ll be carefully monitored for rare risks just like everyone else.
A second U.S. vaccine maker, Moderna, also is studying its shots in elementary school-aged children. Pfizer and Moderna are studying even younger tots as well, down to 6-month-olds. Results are expected later in the year.
You may like
Coronavirus Outbreak
VIDEO: Dr. Krishna Tewari on COVID-19, its Permanent Impact on Medicine, Medical Policy and His Network
Published
4 years agoon
April 28, 2022
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN) – In this week’s episode of the FNN Politics & Power Series, Dr. Krishna Tewari, hospitalist and CEO of Inpatient Specialists Group, LLC, spoke with Mellissa about his network of fellow hospitalists, the COVID-19 pandemic and its permanent impact on medical innovation, the impact of Tampa’s growing population on his business, and more.
Catch new episodes of the FNN Politics & Power Series every Thursday at 1pm ET on Facebook (@Florida National News or @FNN News TV) or on YouTube (www.youtube.com/c/floridanationalnews).
COVID-19
Dr. Raul Pino Appointed Orange County Health Director
Published
4 years agoon
April 19, 2022
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Mayor Jerry L. Demings has appointed Dr. Raul Pino as the next Orange County Director of Health Services.
“Dr. Pino is a revered public health expert in Orange County,” said Mayor Demings. “He has an exceptional reputation amongst our citizens, as well as the professional medical community in Central Florida.”
Dr. Pino served as the Chief Health Officer of the Department of Health in Orange County for the past three years. From March 2020, Pino worked side-by-side with Mayor Demings through 166 COVID-19 news conferences.
As the Director of the Health Services Department, Dr. Pino will oversee all strategic, operational and fiscal responsibilities of the department. This includes the oversight of the county’s Corrections Health Services, Drug-Free Office, Orange County Medical Clinic, Animal Services and Mosquito Control Division, as well as any response to unique public health matters affecting county residents.
“Dr. Pino has a rich history in working with our Health Services Department to meet the needs of our community,” said Mayor Demings. “During these most recent years, Dr. Pino’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of our public health initiatives, including our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr. Pino’s educational background includes a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Instituto Superior de Ciencicias Medicas de la Universidad de La Habana, Havana, Cuba, as well as a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Prior to coming to the state of Florida in 2019, Dr. Pino served as the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Health from 2015-2019.
“He has proven himself as an asset to our public health efforts and will continue to provide valuable leadership to our community in his new role with Orange County,” added the Mayor.
Dr. Pino’s appointment will be effective April 26, 2022, upon approval by the Board of County Commissioners. His first day as Health Services Director will be May 2, 2022.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Following a Federal Court decision and updated directives from the Transportation Security Administration, the wearing of facial coverings will no longer be mandated at Orlando International Airport.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which runs OIA, released the following statement:
“The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority will continue to remain vigilant in its efforts to promote a safe, secure and sanitized environment for its guests through the enhanced cleaning methods we’ve enacted over the course of the pandemic. However, the signage and messaging throughout the airport campus will be removed to support the current enforcement climate.
“The CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings as a preventative measure against COVID-19. Each individual can proceed to wear a face mask if they feel it is important for their health and the health of their family. We can expect that some of our industry partners may require a mask be worn in our airports and we need to respect that decision as well.”
