Officials, experts warn against using COVID-19 vaccine in kids under 12

Health experts and federal officials are advising physicians not to administer the newly-approved Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to children under the age of 12, despite pressure from parents clamoring for a way to vaccinate their young children.

While full approval of a drug generally allows for “off-label” use outside the prescribed population, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there’s still not enough data about the safety of the vaccines for children in that age group.

“That would be a great concern that people would vaccinate children, because we don’t have the proper dose, and we don’t have the safety data, nor do we have all the efficacy data,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said during a media briefing Monday.

“We need to get the information and data on uses in younger children. They are not just small adults, we’ve learned that time and time again,” Woodcock said.

The dosing amounts for children are likely to be less than the amount used for adults, and clinical trials for children are currently underway.