Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pfizer Trials For Young Kids Miss Immunity Marks; More Testing Needed
NBC News: Pfizer Is Testing A Third Covid Vaccine Dose In Young Kids, Delaying Trial Results
Pfizer and BioNTech are testing a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine in an ongoing trial of children ages 6 months to under 5 years after the companies found that the two-dose regimen didn’t generate a strong enough immune response in some children, the companies announced Friday. The change to the trial protocol means that the companies won't have data to submit to regulators until the first half of 2022. That's a change from earlier this month, when Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company could have data on young kids by the end of this year. (Lovelace Jr., 12/17)
Fox News: Low-Dose Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Fails In Trial On 2 To 5 Year Olds
A low dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine failed to produce an adequate response in children aged two to five years of age. The companies announced the results from ongoing critical trials on Friday and said that after testing children 6 months to 5 years of age with one-tenth of the adult dose, children between 6 months and 2 years produced an immune response similar to people aged 16 to 25 after two doses but children between 2 and 5 did not. (Mark Miller, 12/17)
CNN: Pfizer's Child-Sized Vaccine Fails To Produce Expected Immunity In Younger Kids; Company Adds Third Dose To Trials
It showed that two child-sized doses of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine were not producing the expected immunity in the 2- to 5-year-olds, although they were doing so for the babies up to age 2.So the company said it would "amend" the trial to add a third dose. "The study will now include evaluating a third dose of 3 micrograms at least two months after the second dose of the two-dose series to provide high levels of protection in this young age group," it said. (Fox and Langmaid, 12/17)
And another death is linked to the Pfizer shot —
Reuters: New Zealand Links 26-Year-Old Man's Death To Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine
New Zealand authorities on Monday said they had linked a 26-year-old man's death to Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine after the person suffered myocarditis, a rare inflammation of the heart muscle, after taking his first dose. The death is New Zealand's second linked to a known but rare side effect from the vaccine after health authorities in August reported a woman had died after taking her doses. (12/19)
In other news from Pfizer —
Fox News: Pfizer COVID-19 Pill May Not See Approval For 'Months' Despite 'Impressive' Data
The new Pfizer COVID-19 pill may not see Emergency Use Authorization for another month as health officials continue to highlight the promising effects it may bring. Dr. Anthony Fauci praised the data presented by Pfizer regarding the COVID pill, which someone would take within 48 hours of showing symptoms and continue to take for three to five days. Initial trial data indicates that the pill is up to 90% effective at preventing serious illness and death, which has prompted Pfizer and officials to seek Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Under the authorization, hospitals could administer the pill for treatment in extreme cases. (Aitken, 12/19)
CNBC: Pfizer Executives Say Covid Could Become Endemic By 2024
Covid will become an endemic disease as early as 2024, Pfizer executives said Friday, meaning the virus will transition from a global emergency to a constant presence causing regional outbreaks across the world — much like the flu. “We believe Covid will transition to an endemic state, potentially by 2024,” Nanette Cocero, global president of Pfizer Vaccines, said during an investor call Friday. (Miao, 12/17)
