The drug companies said they are asking the FDA for authorisation of the first two doses of a planned three-dose regimen.
"If two doses are authorised, parents will have the opportunity to begin a COVID-19 vaccination series for their children while awaiting potential authorisation of a third dose," Pfizer Chief Executive Albert Bourla said.
He said the company believes three doses of the vaccine will be needed "to achieve high levels of protection against current and potential future variants".
The companies expect to complete submitting data for the EUA in the coming days, with data on the third dose to follow.
Pfizer and BioNTech are testing a 3-microgram dose of the vaccine in the age group, compared with a 10-microgram dose in 5- to 11-year-olds and 30 micrograms for people aged 12 and older.
The companies said they expect to have ample supply of the 3-microgram shots should the FDA authorise the vaccine.
EVIDENCE OF CLINICAL BENEFIT?
Authorisation of a vaccine for younger children could help harried parents who have had to contend with quarantines and closures of pre-schools and daycare centres.
The move could speed up the inoculation timeline for US children this age by months. If a third dose is eventually authorised, many children could already have begun the regimen. Pfizer is currently testing two doses three weeks apart, followed by a third dose at least 8 weeks later.
In December, Pfizer said it was amending its clinical trial to test a three-dose version of the vaccine because the lower-dose generated an immune response in 2- to 4-year-olds that was inferior to the response measured in those aged 16 to 25. In 6- month- to 24-month-old children, the vaccine generated an immune response in line with 16- to 25-year-olds.
"The appropriateness of any EUA for under 5 for the vaccine will depend on what the data show beyond the antibody levels, for example any evidence of a clinical benefit," said Dr Walid Gellad, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh medical school.
The vaccine is already approved for emergency use in children in the United States as young as 5. It has full approval for adults.
The FDA also has authorised a third booster dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot for adults and children aged 12 and older. It gave the green light for a two-dose vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.
It remains unclear how many parents will choose to vaccinate their younger children.
Vaccinating children has been slow in the United States with only around 22 per cent of 5- to 11 year-olds having received two shots since the campaign to inoculate that age group began in November.
HONG KONG: Bags packed and ready to go, Hong Kong house cats Teddy and Newman were all set for leaving on a private jet plane - an expensive last resort for their owners as the city piles on pandemic restrictions.
China remains one of the few places left in the world pursuing a strict "zero-COVID" policy, transforming Hong Kong, a one-time aviation hub, into a city where thwarted travel plans and cancelled flights are the norm.
The emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant in recent weeks has also seen authorities ban incoming flights and transit passengers from numerous countries - upending plans for the already limited number of carriers still entering the city.
For Lee, a Hong Konger emigrating to Britain, it also meant that ferrying his beloved elderly cats Teddy and Newman out by commercial airline was no longer possible.
"It is an exceptional situation," Lee told AFP ahead of last week's flight, providing only his family name.
"If it was just my wife and I travelling, of course we wouldn't take a private jet. It's only because of our cats."
Typically favoured by the ultra-rich, private planes are now a mode of transport desperate pet owners are turning to when departing the increasingly isolated city.
With commercial airlines already restricting the number of animals that can be transported on a plane, the spate of flight cancellations has created a massive backlog of outbound pets stuck in the city.
Animal travel company Pet Holidays said December's flight suspensions alone left 3,000 to 4,000 cats and dogs stranded.
"No amount of money can buy them a seat" on a commercial flight, said Fanny Liang, the company's pet emigration consultant.
For a chartered private jet, an all-inclusive package for a house cat -- and their human - runs to about US$23,100 at Pet Holidays, though Liang said the costs vary based on the animal's size.
HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) - Hong Kong researchers have found evidence that pet hamsters can spread Covid-19 to people, and linked the animals to human infections in the city.
The study, published on Saturday (Jan 29) in The Lancet as a preprint and not yet peer-reviewed, provided the first documented evidence of hamster-to-human transmission of the Delta variant.
Researchers from the University of Hong Kong and the city's government found two independent cases of such transmission, after testing viral swabs and blood samples from animals collected from local pet shops.
The hamsters in question were infected around Nov 21, before they were imported to Hong Kong, suggesting pet animal trade may be a pathway that facilitates Covid-19 to spread across borders, according to the study.
"This study reveals that pet hamsters can acquire Sars-CoV-2 infection in real-life settings and can transmit the virus back to humans," the researchers said in the study.
"The Sars-CoV-2 circulating in hamsters can allow sustainable virus transmission in humans."
It advised members of the public earlier this month to surrender hamsters purchased on or after Dec 22 for "humane dispatch", after some pet store workers and customers tested positive for the virus, and some of the animals imported from the Netherlands at the store tested preliminary positive.
China demands labelling of foreign actors in bid to push non-Chinese off screen South China Morning Post
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMid2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNjbXAuY29tL25ld3MvcGVvcGxlLWN1bHR1cmUvY2hpbmEtcGVyc29uYWxpdGllcy9hcnRpY2xlLzMxNjQ5NjEvY2hpbmEtcGF0cmlvdGlzbS1wcm9kdWNlcnMtYmUtZm9yY2VkLWxhYmVs0gEA?oc=5
Since the pandemic started, we have embraced online shopping (and food deliveries), reviewed our relationships, lived more mindfully, led a more sustainable lifestyle, and overhauled our eating habits. Suffice it to say that no one has emerged the same after nearly two years of living in the pandemic.
Health has been topmost on the minds of most people. At the same time, the issue of sustainability has also been getting more airtime than before. So when I discovered Vitable, an Australian supplements company that prides itself on sustainable practices, I thought I had hit the jackpot. Isn't it great that Mother Earth does not take a beating in my bid to stay in tiptop health?
If you are considering a more sustainable approach towards your supplements intake, read on to learn more about my subscription journey with Vitable and see if this is for you.
What's Vitable?
In a nutshell, Vitable is a health supplements company built on sustainable practices, offering a “personalised yet accessible approach to nutrition, coupled with honest advice”.
This quiz takes stock of your lifestyle needs and your unique health goals to formulate the list of supplements bringing you closer to your health objectives. After that, you get a personalised vitamin recommendation with a detailed explanation of what each ingredient can do for you.
Step 3: Confirm the proposed list of supplements, key in your details, make payment, and your health package is on its way! It typically takes around a week for your package to arrive.
The customised Vitable package comes with a booklet in a compostable box. PHOTO: Cadence Loh
Here’s what I like about Vitable:
1.Transparency
The brand prides itself on its transparency, from its formulas and ingredients to the science that goes behind it. Looking for vitamins, minerals, probiotics, herbs or speciality supplements, Vitable’s product library will tell you all about each ingredient’s functions and how you can build your personalised pack. According to their website, all claims are supported by scientific studies. In addition, their products are touted as free of nasties such as GMOs, artificial additives and preservatives.
2. Handy and convenient
One of the biggest pluses for me is that my monthly Vitable supplies come in 30 individually-packed sachets. I ordered four different supplements, and all four tablets are packed in one lightweight, plastic-free sachet. So convenient! Depending on my activity each day, all I need is one sachet to go into my bag, and I take off for the day. I can be out for breakfast, gym or even overseas and not miss a single dosage. Goodbye, heavy and bulky bottles. On my recent 23-day overseas trip, I did not have to go through the trouble of counting the exact number of pills needed for the duration of my trip. Imagine how tedious it is to pack four to six different supplements. You do the Maths! Not only did I save time, but my precious luggage weight limit can also make way for other essentials.
3. Personalised home-compostable sachets
The Vitable sachets are imprinted with my name. PHOTO: Cadence Loh
I no longer have to deal with the niggling worry about the harm towards the environment each time I throw out a plastic supplement bottle. Each Vitable sachet is 100 per cent home-compostable, while their pouches are made of plant-based cellulose produced from sustainably-harvested Eucalyptus trees. And, they come with my name on them. Wonderful if you have other family members who are on their Vitable journey as well.
4.Cost savings
Who doesn’t like to save more? As a direct-to-consumer (hello, no middlemen mark-ups!), Vitable takes away the unnecessary costs and pass those savings to the consumer. Each sachet costs less than AU$1 a day! In each of my sachet, I had four different types of supplements. How's that for affordability?
5.Staying on track
Whether you are old-school and prefer hard copies or embrace the convenience of paperless technology, Vitable utilises a double-pronged approach to ensure you stay on top of your vitamin routine. Your package comes with a little booklet indicating your vitamin choices, what they can do for your health, as well as a simple 30-day tracker (on the back of the same hard copy booklet) for you to put a tick on every day you take your vitamins.
The Vitable app helps you track your health progress as well as earn points. PHOTO: Cadence Loh
Otherwise, the Vitable app is a fantastic tracker for keeping tabs on your daily supplement consumption. Best of all, there’s an Energy and Sleep tracker to monitor your health progress, as well as an alarm function to give you that daily health nudge. On top of that, you get expert advice on your supplements journey. For example, did you know that vitamins are best taken with food and a large glass of water? This is because some vitamins may bring on woozy effects when taken on an empty stomach.
What's more, the app allows you to earn rewards and get discounts on your monthly orders!
6. Guiding light
Upon signing up, I received prompts via emails and the app dishing out helpful tips to stay on my supplement course. One great suggestion was to stack healthy habits by attaching new routines to daily tasks. It can be as simple as taking my personalised supplements with breakfast or ensuring I take my supplements at a fixed time. I felt as if a pharmacist was providing some guiding light.
7.Free consultation
Unlike the usual over-the-counter supplement brands, Vitable has clinical nutritionists on hand to answer any health and wellness queries for free to make the most out of your vitamins. They are just an email away at hello@vitable.com.au, or better still, contact their nutritionist via the app and get on a 15-minute call. How cool is that?
8.No lock-ins, cancel anytime
Our lifestyle, diet and goals evolve over time, and Vitable is on-board with this. Simply reach out to their nutritionists or retake the quiz to change up the monthly supplement subscription. Should you, by any chance, miss some days and have a surplus, Vitable recommends that you do not overdose but reach out to them to delay the next subscription. It's as simple as a few clicks on the app.
The cons:
As a first-time subscriber, I wasn’t aware that the subscription was automated from my first purchase (you’ll need to key in your credit card details). And since I was away on a long overseas vacation, the automated subscription kicked in, and my second month's subscription was on its way – while I was still overseas!
To be fair, they did send out an email to indicate that they are preparing the subsequent month's supply. Given normal circumstances, I should have time to amend my subscription. However, since I was vacationing, emails took a back seat and I missed the email alert. I was horrified that the package was on its way and would be waiting at my doorstep weeks before I arrived home. Thankfully, my package remained safe and sound at my doorstep upon returning.
Vitable dispenser. PHOTO: Cadence Loh
So word of caution, time your subscription, especially if you are planning on heading overseas. Apart from this minor mishap, I have no further complaints about my experience with Vitable. I love how easy it is to navigate the website and app. And how the 30-day supply comes in a nifty space-saving, eco-friendly packaging with a dispenser. I will probably try out the personal consultation with the nutritionist.
There's never been a better time to kick start a healthy habit. Why not do so with Vitable?
Use promotional code “NEWYEAR50” to enjoy 50% off your first customised vitamin plan. Valid from now till 13 February.
Get your customised Vitable pack — free shipping with orders over S$59.
The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always seek advice from a qualified healthcare provider on queries regarding a medical condition. Any action taken by you in reliance on or in connection with this content is solely at your own risk.
WASHINGTON: US biotech company Moderna announced on Wednesday (Jan 26) that it has begun clinical trials of a booster dose of vaccine designed specifically to combat the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The trials will involve a total of 600 adults - half of whom have already received two doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago, and half of whom have received two doses plus the previously authorised booster dose.
The booster specifically targeting Omicron will therefore be evaluated as both a third and a fourth dose.
The company also reported results on the efficacy against Omicron of the booster that has already been authorised.
It said that six months after the booster injection, the levels of neutralising antibodies against Omicron were reduced by six times from the peak observed 29 days after the injection - but remained detectable in all participants.
These data were obtained by studying the blood of 20 people who received the 50 microgram booster, half the amount of the first two injections.
"We are reassured by the antibody persistence against Omicron at six months after the currently authorised" booster, Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel said in the statement.
"Nonetheless, given the long-term threat demonstrated by Omicron's immune escape, we are advancing our Omicron-specific variant vaccine booster candidate and we are pleased to begin this part of our Phase 2 study," Bancel continued.
Moderna's statement came the day after rivals Pfizer and BioNTech said they had begun enrollment for a clinical trial for an Omicron-specific vaccine.
Both vaccines are based on messenger RNA technology, which makes it relatively easy to update them to keep up with mutations specific to new variants.
Several countries, including the United States, have begun to see a decline in cases associated with the infection wave caused by Omicron, the most transmissible variant detected so far, but the number of infections worldwide continues to rise.
BEIJING: Beijing reported 14 local confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (Jan 26), the highest daily count in its current outbreak, less than two weeks before the Winter Olympics are due to commence in the Chinese capital and in neighbouring Hebei province.
The number of domestically spread infections with confirmed symptoms in Beijing reported for Tuesday comprised more than half of the 24 such cases nationwide, data from the National Health Commission showed.
Beijing has detected a total of 55 local cases with symptoms since Jan 15, with both the Omicron and Delta variants.
The number is significantly lower than cases elsewhere in the world but the city has put tens of thousands of people under targeted lockdowns and tested a few million residents to block transmission.
Beijing's moves are in line with a national guideline to curb virus flare-ups as soon as possible, which takes on extra urgency as China has vowed to safely host the Winter Olympics Games and prevent major outbreaks during the Lunar New Year travel season.
Aside from Beijing, the provinces of Heilongjiang, Hebei, Liaoning, Henan and Guangdong as well as the region of Xinjiang all reported sporadic local cases with confirmed symptoms for Tuesday, NHC data showed.
In the Horgos city of Xinjiang, two asymptomatic infected people, detected on Sunday, were found to have contracted the Omicron variant, state television said late on Tuesday. The two had not left the city in two weeks and the source of the virus remained unclear.
There were no new deaths on Tuesday, leaving China's overall death toll from the pandemic at 4,636.
As of Jan 25, mainland China had reported a total of 105,749 cases with confirmed symptoms, including both local ones and those arriving from abroad.
