American drug maker Pfizer says new data shows its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and protective for children aged 5 to 11. The company said Monday it will seek U.S. approval for the shot to be used in children in this age group as soon as possible. Pfizer developed the vaccine jointly with its German partner BioNTech. Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be used in all individuals over the age of 16. The vaccine has also been available under emergency use for people 12 to 15 years old. In trials involving 5- to 11-year-olds, Pfizer tested a smaller dose, about one third the amount given in current shots. Pfizer officials said with the smaller dose, children ages 5 to 11 still developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teenagers and young adults getting full-strength injections. The children’s dosage was also shown to be safe, causing similar or fewer temporary side effects than experienced by teens, Pfizer senior vice president Dr. Bill Gruber told The Associated Press. Such effects can include pain in the arm, fever and body aches. Gruber, who specializes in child medical care, said researchers “really hit the sweet spot” with the latest vaccine. He added that Pfizer and BioNTech aim to seek emergency approval from the FDA by the end of the month for use in this age group. They also plan to seek government approval in the European Union and Britain.