Meeting to discuss COVID-19 vaccine in kids 6 months to 4 years postponed

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting that was originally scheduled for February 15, 2022 to discuss the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 months to 4 years, has been postponed as a result of Pfizer notifying the agency of new data related to the third dose. The rescheduled date has not been announced yet.

In the release of the announcement, the FDA stated that they are weighing the need to act with urgency but also consider the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and believe that information about the third dose will help.

Until the agency does make a decision, the guidance to keep young children remains the same: social distance when possible, mask in accordance to current public health recommendations, and vaccination and boosters for family members and caregivers who are eligible to receive them.