 EU
brings forward Pfizer/BioNTech COVID shot for younger children to Dec 13
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[December 01, 2021]
By Andreas Rinke and Ludwig Burger
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The European
Union-wide rollout of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine version for
five- to 11-year-old children will begin Dec 13, one week earlier than
previously planned, Germany's health ministry said on Wednesday.
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 Germany is due to receive 2.4 million doses for use as a two-dose
regimen, the ministry said, adding it has commitment on the new date
from the manufacturer.
"Given the current pandemic situation, this is good news for parents
and children. Many are awaiting this eagerly," acting health
minister Jens Spahn said in the statement.
A BioNTech spokesperson confirmed the earlier launch, adding it was
contingent on the production batch passing quality control checks
early next week.
The rollout will be brought forward without an impact on agreed
delivery volumes thanks to "a massive effort including weekend work"
on the part of Pfizer and BioNTech staff, the company added.
The European Union last week approved use of the low-dose vaccine
version for five- to 11-year-olds, following authorisation in May to
give the standard adult dosage to children 12 years and older.
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 Coronavirus is spreading faster
in Europe than in other world regions, prompting
a scramble to encourage non-vaccinated adults to
get shots, to get a campaign for third booster
doses off the ground and to inoculate children.
Recorded infections among school-age children in Germany have surged
and have been about twice as high as the all-age average over the
last few weeks.
Frequent testing in classrooms may be bringing more asymptomatic
cases to light than in the overall population.
The United States started distributing the paediatric version of the
Pfizer shot in early November, followed by Canada in mid-November.
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke; writing by Ludwig Burger; editing by
Miranda Murray and Jason Neely)
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