Dose for children one third of regular dose / Vaccinate children with pre-existing conditions quickly

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has just recommended approval of the corona vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer for five to eleven year old children. So far, the vaccine has been approved for adolescents aged twelve and older. The formal approval by the European Commission will follow soon. MEP and health policy spokesperson of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats), Peter Liese, welcomed the decision. "With corona numbers rising sharply, it is urgent that a safe and effective vaccine is now also available for children, in particular  with pre-existing. Children with Down's syndrome, a heart defect or lung diseases, for example, have a greatly increased risk in some cases and should be vaccinated as soon as possible in view of the danger of infection with Covid-19. That is why it is important that the vaccine for the children now also comes into the practices promptly, so that they can be immunised quickly. In my opinion, the paediatricians should decide on prioritisation, as they know their little patients best and can thus act quickly and unbureaucratically," said Liese, who as a doctor has worked in a paediatric clinic himself.

Liese expressed optimism that a second vaccine for children will soon be approved. "I expect that an approval for the Moderna vaccine for children between 5 and 11 years will also be granted in the next few weeks. The application for approval is at the EMA and is being processed. The more vaccine is then available and the more alternatives there are, the better for the little patients."  In this context, Liese once again called on adults in particular to get vaccinated and also boostered. "We have had approved vaccines for adults since December last year and billions of people have now been vaccinated without the horror scenarios that vaccination opponents conjure up having come to pass. Liese urgently appealed to the undecided: "Show solidarity and get vaccinated," the doctor and MEP concluded.