Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective in young children ages 5-11, new data shows

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective in young children than older children and adults, according to new data.

The data was collected by health officials in New York State.

There was limited evidence on the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine in younger children. The drop in effectiveness in children ages 12 to 17 years old was less than the drop in effectiveness in adults.

According to the data set, the vaccine caused a decline in hospitalization rates from 100% to 48%.

In the Omicron era, the effectiveness against cases of BNT162b2 declined rapidly for children, particularly those 5-11 years, health officials said in the online post of the data.

The results show the need to study alternative vaccine dosages for children and the importance of protecting against infections and transmission.

The Pfizer vaccine is approved for children younger than 18 years old. The effectiveness rate of the shot in young children may be lower because recipients receive a smaller dose than adults.

Pfizer and BioNTech asked the FDA to approve a two-dose vaccine for children under 5 years old. The vaccine manufacturer put the request on hold after the two doses gave at an even smaller dosage did not produce a strong enough immune response in children 6 months through 4 years of age.