The FDA has officially authorized Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for kids 5-11

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm healthcare editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:

• The FDA has authorized a low-dose version of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for kids aged 5-11;
• Samsung has a new healthcare strategy that involves lots of investing;
• A top health official says Ginkgo Bioworks isn't respecting public health.

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The FDA just authorized Pfizer's COVID-19 shot for kids 5-11 years old, opening a vaccination campaign to younger children

• The FDA has authorized the first coronavirus vaccine for younger children.
• The agency OK'd Pfizer's vaccine for use in 5- to 11-year-old kids.
• The CDC will finish the review process when its advisory panel meets on November 2 and 3.

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While Amazon and Google are building digital-health operations, Samsung is aggressively adding to its healthcare investment portfolio

• Samsung's venture-capital division has been making a diverse series of digital-health investments.
• Samsung hopes these investments will pave the way for more usage of its devices in healthcare.
• Key areas for investment are health monitoring, wellness, and at-home testing and care.

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Ginkgo Bioworks wanted to tout its COVID-19 testing business. But a top health official said the biotech isn't respecting basic public health after it pushed him to attend an in-person event while sick.

• Ginkgo Bioworks gathered health leaders to discuss Biosecurity and preventing pandemics Thursday.
• Ex-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Ginkgo wanted him to attend in-person, while sick.
• "It's disappointing to see Ginkgo, which purports to be a healthcare company, not respect these basic public health ethos," he said.

Get an inside look>>

More stories we're reading:

• The FDA told Moderna it needs more time to review use of their COVID-19 vaccine for kids (Insider)
• You probably qualify for a COVID-19 booster already, even if you don't realize it, several health experts say (Insider)
• A new study shows that vaccinated people can still spread the Delta COVID-19 variant, though unvaccinated people are still much more likely to get severely ill (Bloomberg)
• Anti-vaxxers shifted strategies to target the right during the pandemic. But they're coming after young mothers again with a vengeance - right under Facebook's nose. (Insider)
• Here's what we know so far about the 'Delta plus' COVID-19 variant (STAT)

-Leah