Pfizer Plans to Ask Regulators for COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization for Young Children in October

Syringes and vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be administered to front-line health care workers under an emergency use authorization at a drive up vaccination site from Renown Health in Reno, Nev. on Dec. 17, 2020. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Pfizer is eying an October submission of safety and efficacy data for its COVID-19 vaccine to U.S. drug regulators in a bid to gain authorization for shots for children between the ages of 5 and 11, two company officials said Tuesday.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, made with German partner BioNTech, is currently only authorized for emergency use in the United States for those 12 to 15, with approval granted last month for Americans 16 and older.