FDA Allows Use of Pfizer Vaccine on Adolescents
Medical Staff prepares a vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine against Covid-19 at a mobile vaccination center in the Markkleeberg suburb town hall on May 10, 2021 in Leipzig, Germany. Germany has succeeded in accelerating its nationwide vaccinations in recent weeks. Approximately one third of the population has received a first dose. Jens Schlueter/Getty Images

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared Pfizer's vaccine on Monday for emergency use in adolescents as young as 12.

This marks another milestone for the country as it poses a possibility of implementing an in-person education next school year, according to The Washington Post report.

Evidence shows that schools can work at low risk with prevention measures. However, a vaccine would increase the confidence in resuming face-to-face classes.

Kawsar R. Talaat, an assistant professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, noted that adolescents have also suffered during the pandemic despite low severe illness and hospitalization among the age group.

Talaat said that a vaccine would allow them to go back to being normal children again.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory is set to review the Pfizer vaccine shots for children.

Pfizer vaccine can distribute its shots to adolescents as early as next week.

Meanwhile, acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock assured that the administration had thoroughly studied available data before clearing it for use, according to a CNBC report.

Pfizer Vaccine Clinical Trial

Pfizer had enrolled participants ages 12 and 15 and gave them either two doses of the vaccine or placebo three weeks apart.

The placebo group had noted symptomatic COVID infection, while the group who had received the vaccine had none, according to The New York Times report.

The vaccine had also appeared safe for the said age group with the usual side effects.

About 20 percent of the younger participants had fevers, while 17 percent were noted in the older age group.

Pfizer began testing its vaccine on adolescents in March. They then extended the trial to younger children, ages 2 to 5, last month.

The company is eyeing to test its vaccine to younger groups, such as six months to two years old.

Federal data recorded that children make up around 20 percent of the total U.S. population.

Experts claim that between 70 percent and 85 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity while also noting that some adults may refuse to get the vaccine.

COVID Vaccines

On Thursday, Moderna announced that its vaccine candidate is 96 percent effective in the 12- to 17-years-old age group.

Moderna had enrolled 3,200 participants, which included 12 cases that started 14 days after the first dose.

According to a CBS News report, the company noted no severe side effects observed, aside from the usual pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, myalgia, and chills.

The company said that it is still collecting data in the teen trial and discussing possible changes to its regulatory filings.

Last month, Johnson & Johnson also had started to test its vaccine in adolescents 12 to 17 years old.

The J&J vaccine was authorized in February for use in adults. It is also authorized in Canada and other countries.

However, the company had experienced some hurdles on future shipments after a mix-up in ingredients.

WATCH: Pfizer Vaccine For Kids 12-15 Set For Approval By FDA -from TODAY