CORONAVIRUS

Children 12 and up can get Pfizer jab, says EU regulator

A health worker holds a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine vial during a vaccination campaign. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa.
The EMA says the vaccine is safe for children and seems to be effective in helping them resist infection.
The coronavirus vaccine produced by Pfizer/BioNTech can be used for children aged 12 and up, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Marco Cavalleri, the regulatory body's director for vaccine strategies, said on Friday the data showed that the vaccine was safe for children and seems to be effective in helping them resist infection, with no signs of serious side effects.

The decision makes the vaccine the first set to be approved for anyone under age 16 in Europe.

The European Commission must still sign off on the EMA ruling, but that is considered a formality.

The Pfizer/BioNTech jab has already been approved for use by children in the US and Canada.

Moderna has also submitted its vaccine for approval for the young.