The Collegiate Board of the National Health Surveillance Agency unanimously approved the emergency use of the Coronavac vaccine in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. The directors' vote follows the recommendation of the technical area. The request of the Butantan Institute was to use the doses in children from 3 years old. However, the regulatory agency understood that there is not enough data to reduce the age of vaccination against Covid-19. The evaluation also vetoes the use of the vaccine in immunocompromised children and adolescents.
The general manager of Medicines and Biological Products at ANVISA, Gustavo Mendes, who made the presentation of the technical area before the vote, explained that the expansion of the age group to 3 to 5 years can be done when more data is available. The Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, Brazilian Society of Immunizations, and Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases support the authorization and extension of the use of the Coronavac vaccine for children aged 6 to 17 years.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon