Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine safe, effective on adolescents in trial

FILE PHOTO: A vial labelled with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine is seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

CHICAGO (Reuters) -Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and produces robust antibody responses in 12 to 15-year olds, they said on Wednesday, paving the way for them to seek U.S. and European approval in weeks to use the shot in this age group.

The read-out from a clinical trial, which puts the pair ahead of other Western vaccine developers in the quest to protect children, will likely allow for the use of the vaccine in that group before the next school year, Albert Bourla, Pfizer's chief executive, said in a statement.