Italy's medicines agency AIFA on Wednesday evening authorised the Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11. The news comes a week after the EU medicines regulator EMA approved the Comirnaty vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, recommending that children get two doses of 10 micrograms, three weeks apart. Adult doses contain 30 micrograms.

AIFA said in a statement that the data available "demonstrates a high level of efficacy and there are currently no warning signs in terms of safety", reports news agency ANSA. Deputy health minister Andrea Costa, speaking on Radio 105 earlier on Wednesday, stressed: “We have to say with clarity that the vaccine will be voluntary and that there is no Green Pass planned for the under-12s”.