Pfizer shot gets US nod for 12-15 year olds as India outbreak rages

  • Date: 11-May-2021
  • Source: Kuwait Times
  • Sector:Healthcare
  • Country:Kuwait
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Pfizer shot gets US nod for 12-15 year olds as India outbreak rages

WASHINGTON: The United States drug regulator authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 12-15 as the country aims to speed up its COVID-19 recovery, but the huge outbreak in India persisted with known coronavirus deaths approaching 250,000 yesterday. With some wealthy nations easing restrictions thanks to rapid inoculation drives but many others struggling to secure doses, the head of the World Health Organization slammed so-called “vaccine diplomacy” and called for cooperation without strings attached.

Among those under pressure to do more for poorer countries is the United States, where more than 115 million people have been fully vaccinated and authorities have started to ease curbs to help with the recovery of the world’s biggest economy. Those efforts got another boost Monday when the US Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer shot for 12- to 15-year-olds. “This is a promising development in our fight against the virus,” said President Joe Biden. The US Centers for Disease Control said its advisory committee will now meet to discuss a recommendation for this age group.

The move has been criticized, however, by some public health experts who say these doses would be better used in other countries where highly vulnerable people are still waiting for