known and expected benefits of the vaccine for children 5 to 11 years of ainge exceeded the known and expected risks of that vaccine. we looked at dose ranging, the dose for children 5 to 11 years of age. it will be one-third. a much lower dose. they showed safety data as well as the ability even at that low dose to produce antibodies that can protect against covid in that age group. you mentioned the kids would receive one third of the adult dose. the clinical trial showed it s 90% effective among children. no serious side effects as well. is a low doris helpful as far as side effects? it can be helpful.
just yesterday. more today and that 80% of the force is now vaccinated. and that the nypd tonight is in good shape for monday morning. this evening, this question too. for some time now which gives you more protection. natural immunity if you ve had covid or the vaccines if you haven t had i had? the new cdc study just out tonight and abc s whit johnson leading us off. reporter: tonight, that long-awaited fda greenlight. the pfizer vaccine authorized for 28 million children between the ages of 5 and 11. their ability to make an immune response actually in some ways is often better than it is in adults, and that s one of the reasons we were very gratified with the pfizer-biontech covid 19 vaccine that we could actually use a smaller dose. reporter: at just a third of the adult dose, the vaccine was found to be 91% effective against symptomatic illness, with some reporting mild side effects like sore arm, fever and headache. the first 15 million doses now expected to ship out wit
their study, the effectiveness was 91%, which is similar to the effectiveness they saw in older children. on top of that, the side affect were minimal, side effects mainly arm soreness, and feeling under the weather and they found the dose they needed was one-third of the adult dose, which is the important part here, because we say children are not just little adults and they are little people with their own body and immune system, and they found the third of the dose gave them safety and effectiveness as well. you heard probably from a lot of parents that had questions about this, and surveys have shown not a majority of parents will jump in and get their children the shot. what you have heard? the biggest question is should my child get this because are children that susceptible to this virus and does it really cause that many issues?
aduu indicating that one third of the adult dose is the same and effective dosein adult dose is the same and effective dose in this age group, we felt the evidence of benefit outweighed the risks. . ., . , evidence of benefit outweighed the risks. evidence of benefit outweighed the risks. the efficacy, as you say, is very good. risks. the efficacy, as you say, is very good. but risks. the efficacy, as you say, is very good, but what risks. the efficacy, as you say, is very good, but what about - very good, but what about myocarditis, the inflammation of the heart that we know some older children of had that have taken a vaccine? did that play on your mind? yes, that was a very important part of the liberation and fda model lists model that based on the data and we looked at it very carefully how many cases of covid, severe covid, covid hospitalisation and death would be prevented by it ministering this vaccine and how many of myocarditis may be seen? we would point out with
to 11 years of age. your viewers should note that the recommended dose is lower than the adult dose. in fact, quite a bit lower. it is one-third the dose that s given to an adult. you ve taught us before dr. levy, it s not about weight or huskiness, it s about age. an 11 1/2-year-old is not seen the same as a 12-year-old regardless of how much they weigh. by all means, and there are a range of opinions among american parents about development. victor summarized them appropriate. we have to understand, the questions i get from parents, are listen, doctor, we understand that vaccination is important. however, you know, covid is rarely severe in 5 to 11-year-olds, so why witare we immunizing them, exposing them to a vaccine. i remind parents we re at a delicate time in the pandemic. yesterday 50,000 americans were hospitalized due to covid,