[UPDATED] MoH gives Pfizer shots conditional approval for kids aged 5 to 11

KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry has given conditional approval to inoculate children between 5 and 11 years old with Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty vaccine.

In a statement today, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the decision was made following a meeting held by the Drug Control Authority (DCA) today.

Dr Noor Hisham said this group of children will be given 10mcg, which is a smaller dose compared with the same vaccine given to those aged 12 and above.

He added that the 30mcg of Comirnaty solution for injection is a new formulation that does not require dilution before it is given to those aged 12 and above.

“This new formulation has a longer shelf life – 10 weeks – compared with the existing formulation (one month) when stored at 2ºC to 8ºC after thawing.”

He said the DCA has also given conditional approval for CanSino Biologic Inc’s single-dose Convidecia vaccine to be given as booster shots to individuals aged 18 and above with an interval of three to six months after receiving the first dose of the same vaccine.

“The approval of this conditional registration will still require information on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine that will be evaluated and monitored by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division, based on latest data from time to time.

“This is to ensure that the benefit over risk for this vaccine remains positive,” he said.

On October 29, Khairy affirmed that Malaysia would go ahead with its procurement of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 12.

He said this came after the medical panel of United States government advisers endorsed the vaccine for kids two days ago.

He added that Malaysia would look at other options such as the Sinovac shot. – The Vibes, January 6, 2022