Coronavirus: Pfizer says COVID-19 booster raises antibodies for kids aged 5 to 11

Children aged 5 to 11 may soon be able to get a COVID-19 booster shot.

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Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said they have found that a kid-sized booster shot for children will give elementary-aged kids more protection against the coronavirus and at levels high enough to battle the omicron variant, the companies said in a news release, according to The Associated Press.

It raised antibodies 36 times in 30 children who were part of the study, CNN reported.

The data came from a small study of 140 children that has not yet been published or reviewed by independent experts.

But the information will be used by Pfizer and BioNTech to request the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize a booster for kids between the ages of 5 and 11, the AP reported.

The booster would be dispensed at least six months after the second dose, CNN reported.

Pfizer said there were no safety issues associated with the third dose.

Vaccinations are usually less effective against omicron when compared to the first versions of COVID-19, but they do offer some protection.

Pfizer is the only company approved to be used on children on the U.S. and is dispensed in a dose that is one-third the amount of the vaccine given to people 12 and older.

Children under the age of 5 are not yet authorized to get a COVID-19 vaccine and some children 5 to 11 can already get a third dose if they are in a high-risk category, the AP reported.

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