FDA advisory panel recommends Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11

A panel of independent advisers to the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that the agency issue an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 years old. The vote was 17 in favor and one abstention.

The FDA panel accepted Pfizer's data indicating the vaccine is safe and 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in this age group.

The agency typically goes along with the advice of its expert panels, though it isn't bound to do so. It will issue a decision within the next several...