Moderna has announced promising news regarding its COVID-19 vaccine for the youngest population. The pharmaceutical company revealed interim results from its clinical trials conducted on children aged 6 months to 6 years. They plan to request emergency use authorization from the FDA for their vaccine aimed at this age group.
In a trial involving roughly 6,700 children under 6, the Moderna vaccine—administered in two doses of 25 micrograms each, spaced 28 days apart—demonstrated an effectiveness of 43.7% in preventing COVID-19 among children aged 6 months to 2 years, and 37.5% for those aged 2 to 6. Notably, none of the participants experienced severe symptoms, were hospitalized, or developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Additionally, there were no reported cases of myocarditis or pericarditis, conditions previously linked to vaccines, particularly among young men.
Conducted during the omicron variant surge, these results suggest the vaccine’s effectiveness against this strain, which has been associated with higher breakthrough infection rates in adults. Moderna’s CEO, Alex Taylor, expressed optimism about these findings, stating they provide hope for parents of young children. “We are in collaboration with the FDA and global regulators to expedite the submission of this data,” Taylor added.
Parents have faced uncertainty as the Pfizer vaccine was initially approved for older age groups but not for those under 5. Throughout the challenging omicron wave, families with young children have had to manage preschool and daycare without the added protection of a vaccine.
Side effects from the Moderna vaccine were comparable to those seen in older age groups. Fever exceeding 38°C (around 100°F) was reported in 17% of children aged 6 months to 2 years and in 14.6% of those 2 to 6 years. In contrast, the fever rate in children aged 6 to 12, who received two doses of 50 micrograms, was 23.9%. A few participants did experience fevers of 40°C (104°F), but there were no fatalities.
Moreover, Moderna is pursuing FDA approval for the vaccine series comprising two 50-microgram doses for children aged 6 to 12, and two 100-microgram doses for those aged 12 to 18. The vaccine has already received approval in Canada, Australia, and several European nations.
For those interested in further topics related to family planning and home insemination, you might find this post about hip dysplasia informative. Additionally, Make a Mom offers great resources on fertility journeys, while IVF Babble serves as an excellent guide for pregnancy and home insemination.
Search queries related to this topic may include:
- Moderna vaccine for kids under 6
- COVID vaccine safety in children
- Omicron variant and vaccines
- Side effects of Moderna vaccine
- Emergency use authorization process
In summary, Moderna’s recent clinical trial results indicate a significant step forward in the fight against COVID-19 for children under 6, with plans for FDA authorization on the horizon. The vaccine appears to be safe, with manageable side effects, and could soon provide much-needed protection for this vulnerable age group.
Leave a Reply