(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — A promising new development in the rush to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to U.S. residents nationwide.  Pfizer, in conjunction with BioNTech, announced the results of a clinical trial among 12 to 15-year-olds, finding their vaccine has a 100 percent efficacy rate.

A placebo controlled trial monitored 2,260 adolescents found those who received the vaccine did not develop COVID-19 while the eight who did receive the placebo did contract COVID-19.

In addition, Pfizer announced that the COVID-19 vaccine was “well tolerated” among the group of young teenagers, reporting similar side effects experienced in older teens and young adults.’

Health officials say vaccinating children is a critical step in defeating the pandemic.  Although children are less likely to die from the novel coronavirus, they are still capable of falling ill and spreading the illness.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla says he was “encouraged” by the results of the new trial and announced plans to turn over their data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to obtain emergency authorization for children over the age of 12.

The plan for now is to vaccinate children over the age of 12 “before the start of the next school year,” said Bourla.

The next trial Pfizer intends to roll out will consist of a placebo trial on 4,500 children between the ages of six months to 11-years-old.

Another vaccine maker, Moderna, also announced plans to start testing the efficacy of their vaccine on the same age demographic, extending the age cut-off to 12 years of age, soon.  That placebo trial will consist of 6,750 children.

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