FDA to Extend Emergency Authorization of COVID-19 Vaccine to Adolescents Without Advice From Advisory Committee

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration building behind FDA logos at a bus stop on the agency's campus in Silver Spring, Md, on Nov. 17, 2020, Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will not require expert advice from its advisory committee that evaluates and reviews vaccine efficacy and safety to amend Pfizer-BioNTech’s emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents aged 12 to 15, according to an FDA spokesperson. That decision will be made by the agency after reviewing the relevant data.

“As Pfizer has announced, the FDA has received the company’s request to amend its emergency use authorization (EUA) in order to expand the age range for its COVID-19 vaccine to include individuals 12-15 years of age,” a spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.