WASHINGTON, 1 Feb (REUTERS) -- Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE on Tuesday said they have begun submitting data to US regulators seeking emergency use authorisation (EUA) of their COVID-19 vaccine for children under age 5, despite weaker-than-expected immune responses in their clinical trial of 2- to 4-year-olds.

The companies said they started the rolling submission of data following a request from the US Food and Drug Administration in order to address an urgent public health need in the age group.

The FDA said an outside committee of expert advisers would meet on Feb 15 to discuss the authorisation.

"Having a safe and effective vaccine available for children in this age group is a priority," Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said. She said the agency asked for the application because of the recent Omicron surge.

If the FDA authorises the vaccine after its advisory panel meeting, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention also needs to sign off on how the vaccinations will be implemented, following a meeting of its own advisers. Those meetings have tended to follow within a week or so of FDA decisions.