In a major boost to the ongoing vaccination efforts, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has approved the emergency use of Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for children in the age group of 5-11 years. The decision was taken on the basis of promising results derived from clinical studies and relentless assessment of the vaccine in compliance with approved regulations. The UAE ministry's decision is followed by emergency use authorization and local assessment conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The development has come in line with the MoHAP's efforts to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 for all eligible community members. The ministry has been ensuring all possible efforts to boost the nationwide vaccination campaign and accelerate the process of recovery across key sectors.

The authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for young children will strengthen the efforts to protect the age group against COVID-19. The results of clinical studies confirmed the safety of the vaccine for children between the age of 5 and 11 years along with a strong immune response against COVID-19.

In addition, the ministry has announced to launch the provision of booster vaccine dose for those who have received the Pfizer-BioNtech and Sputnik COVID-19 vaccines. It is particularly important for people with chronic diseases who are at increased risk of complications due to the disease. The vaccine will be provided to all eligible people in the age group of 18 to 49 and frontline workers in the age group of 18-59.

Speaking about the development, Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, MoHAP Assistant Under-secretary for Public Health, stated that the decision to provide Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to children between 5 and 11 as well as provision of booster dose is in line with the directives issued by the UAE's wise leadership to combat the pandemic. 

WAM