Pfizer "Clinical Trials for Vaccines Targeting Pregnant Women Started Last Week"

"Clinical trials for ages 12-15 underway, under 11 soon to start"
"300 million doses to be supplied to the US by end of July"... Emphasis on production increase plan

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced that it began clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines targeting pregnant women last week and will soon start clinical trials for children under 11 years old. Pfizer also emphasized that it will fulfill its agreement with the U.S. government to double vaccine production from mid-next month and deliver 300 million doses by the end of July.

On the 23rd (local time), John Young, Pfizer's Chief Business Officer (CBO), appeared via video at the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on vaccine manufacturers and stated, "We are conducting clinical trials for vaccinating people excluded from emergency use authorization." He added, "We started clinical trials for pregnant women last week and are conducting trials for children aged 12 to 15." He further noted, "Clinical trials for children under 11 will soon be conducted."

Previously, Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was authorized for use in individuals aged 16 and older when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization in December last year. Vaccination for pregnant women was not approved because clinical trial data submitted to the FDA did not include pregnant women as subjects.

John Young, CBO, stated, "From mid-next month, we will be able to supply more than 13 million doses weekly," and emphasized, "We will be able to supply all 300 million doses promised to the U.S. government by the end of July." Earlier this month, Pfizer's weekly vaccine supply was only 4 to 5 million doses. However, on the 19th, U.S. President Joe Biden personally visited Pfizer's vaccine plant in Michigan and declared, "We will secure enough doses for all Americans by the end of July," prompting Pfizer to announce its production increase plan.

At the House hearing that day, executives from companies that have already released or are preparing to release COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), AstraZeneca, and Novavax, attended. All these executives pledged to meet their quotas to secure enough vaccine doses for all Americans by the end of July, in line with the Biden administration's goal.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.