A study by BioNTech, Pfizer, and BioNTech found that the Covid two-dose vaccine offered very limited protection for children 5-12 years of age during New York’s omicron epidemic.

New York State Department of Health discovered that Pfizer’s vaccine to prevent Covid infections in children aged 6-8 years fell from 68% down to 12% during the omicron wave that occurred from December 13th through January 24. The protection against hospitalization decreased from 100% down to 48% over the same time.

It is the study has not yet undergone peer reviewThe academic standard. Because of the urgent public health concern of this pandemic, researchers have published the results of their research before any review.

According to the team of public health professionals who carried out the study, the drastic drop in vaccine efficacy among children aged 5-11 years was probably due to lower doses. Children in this age range receive two 10-microgram shots while those aged 12-17 get 30-microgram shots.

Over the weekend of Jan. 30, researchers also conducted a comparison between 11- and 12-year-olds. The vaccine’s effectiveness dropped to 11% in the low dose group, but it provided 67% protection for those who received the higher dose.

According to the study, “Given the rapid decline in immunity against infections,” officials from public health wrote.

From December to January, the vaccine effectiveness against infections for children 12-17 years of age dropped by 66% to 51%. Teenagers’ protection against hospitalization fell from 85% down to 73% during this same time.

This data is coming as New York City prepares to eliminate its school mask mandate on March 7. California will follow suit just four days later. As Covid infection rates plummet dramatically, state governments have eased restrictions and mandates.

Covid infections have fallen 91% since January, when they were at their highest level. According to CNBC’s analysis of Johns Hopkins University data, the U.S. recorded nearly 66,000 infections per day on Sunday. This is a 91% decrease from January’s peak of more than 820,000.

U.S. children hospitalized with Covid increased during the omicron outbreak. To respond to Covid cases in children being hospitalized, the Food and Drug Administration tried to speed up Pfizer’s vaccine for babies six-months to four years of age.

Pfizer, however, and FDA put these plans on hold when data regarding the first two doses of the drug failed to match expectations. FDA will now wait to receive clinical trials data for a third dose, expected in April.