Is there any difference in the ingredients or dosing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for younger children, older children or adults?
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 contains a lower dose (10 micrograms) than the vaccine used for older children and adults (30 micrograms). Smaller needles are being used to deliver the vaccine to children ages 5 through 11.The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 through 11 also contains a different buffer than the vaccine used for older children and adults.
This different buffer, which is used in other FDA-approved vaccines, will help keep the vaccine stable in refrigerated temperatures for longer.The ingredients and dosing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are the same for children ages 12 through 15 and people age 16 and older.