COVID-19 Vaccine: What Do We Know About Its Efficacy and Safety in Children ?

As COVID-19 vaccination campaigns expand to younger populations, Pfizer/BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine has shown promising results in younger populations, though data in children remain limited. Early results for ages 5–11 suggest a well-tolerated response with neutralizing antibody levels comparable to those seen in adults aged 16–25. In adolescents 12–15, no meaningful differences in reactogenicity or serious adverse events were seen compared with placebo, and vaccine efficacy reached 100% against symptomatic COVID-19 after the second dose. Trial results for children under 5 are still pending. Independent assessments, including ACIP, have concluded that the benefits of mRNA vaccination outweigh expected risks such as rare myocarditis across all eligible age groups.