By Dhirendra Tripathi

Investing.com – Pfizer stock (NYSE:) rose nearly 1% in Thursday’s premarket trading after the company asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an emergency authorization for use of its Covid-19 vaccine on children aged 5-11.

It could protect 28 million American citizens. According to The New York Times (NYSE:) The agency promised that it would quickly process the request and has tentatively set a October 26 meeting for the purpose. According to the NYT, a decision is likely between Thanksgiving and Halloween.

Pfizer suggested that children receive one-third the dosage of adults. As it releases its booster doses of medication for vulnerable patients, Pfizer expects quick approval from regulators. However, the company is also up against some obstacles.

The company last month secured FDA’s approval to provide booster dose to those 65 and older and to adults at-risk. The company is moving forward with the exercise. Experts, nations and countries continue to debate the necessity of a booster dose after the first two doses.

Merck (NYSE 🙂 could also be a threat to Pfizer and all Covid-vaccine manufacturers. Last week, Merck announced that a new experimental drug it was developing could reduce hospitalizations and deaths from the disease.

If approved Merck’s antiviral pill could be the world’s first oral medicine for Covid, the company said in a note. Merck will seek an emergency use permit in the U.S. within 24 hours.