Pfizer hopes to give FDA vaccine data for children under five by early June

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer hopes by late this month or early June to share with U.S. regulators that its COVID-19 vaccine works in children younger than five.

The company is testing three extra-small doses of the vaccine in that age group. Two shots of the vaccine previously did not prove strong enough. Results were initially expected last month, but the company revised its timeline this week during its quarterly earnings call.

Presently, in the U.S., only children age 5 and older can be vaccinated with Pfizer. An estimated 18 million young children have been left unvaccinated as a result.

Moderna hopes to beat Pfizer to market with its vaccine rollout for youngsters. Last week, the company filed data with the Food and Drug Administration that it hopes will prove two of its low-dose shots will be effective in children younger than five. 

The agency has currently set dates in June to publicly review data on COVID vaccines for children below age 5 from both or either company.