FDA set to authorize Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12 to 15

The Food and Drug Administration is poised to authorize Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine for adolescents as young as age 12 by early next week, the New York Times reported, though a decision could be made as early as later this week.

The highly anticipated decision would be a major step towards ensuring middle and high schools can operate for full in-person learning next fall, and would be a major boon to parents concerned about the safety of summer activities.

Vaccinating children of all ages will also be crucial to stopping the pandemic

But children broadly have a much lower risk of severe COVID than adults, so an authorization could bring up a host of ethical questions, especially when much of the rest of the world is struggling with vaccine supply.