US could authorise Pfizer shot for kids age 5-11 in Oct: Sources

( Reuters) - Top US health officials believe that Pfizer Inc's Covid-19 vaccine could be authorised for children aged 5- 11 years by the end of October, two sources familiar with the situation said.

The timeline is based on the expectation that Pfizer, which developed the shot with Germany's BioNTech, will have enough data from clinical trials to seek emergency use authorisation (EUA) for that age group from the US Fo o d and Drug Administration ( FDA) towards the end of this month, the sources said. They anticipate the FDA could make a decision on whether the shot is safe and effective in younger children within three weeks of the EUA submission.

The decision on whether to authorise a vaccine for younger children is eagerly anticipated by millions of Americans, particularly parents whose children started school recently amid a wave of infections driven by the Delta variant.

Meanwhile, South Africa's health re gulator approved Pfizer's Covid- 19 vaccine for use by children aged 12 and older, paving the way for the government to offer vaccinations to teenagers. The South African Health Products Authority (SAPHRA) said the decision came after a review of updated safety and efficacy information submitted in March this year.

South Africa has a large youth population, with some 28% under the age of 15.

Countries around the world are now considering or administering vaccines to children, while other vaccine developers including Moderna are seeking the green light for the use of their shots on teens.