Moderna releases child vaccine data, China to vaccinate kids as young as 3

According to child vaccine data released by Moderna Monday, a lower dose of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in kids aged 6-11. Preliminary results showed vaccinated children developed virus-fighting antibodies similar to levels that young adults produce after full-strength shots.

“We are encouraged by the immunogenicity and safety profile of mRNA-1273 in children aged 6 to under 12 years and are pleased that the study met its primary immunogenicity endpoints,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a news release. “We look forward to filing with regulators globally and remain committed to doing our part to help end the COVID-19 pandemic with a vaccine for adults and children of all ages.”

The child vaccine data came from a Moderna study that involved 4,753 children who got two doses of either the vaccine or dummy shots a month apart. Vaccinated youngsters had temporary side effects similar to adults, including fatigue, headache, fever and injection site pain.

Currently, the Moderna vaccine is only approved for adults. No vaccine has been approved for kids 6-11. However, the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) is currently looking at whether or not to approve the Pfizer vaccine for kids 5-11 years old. Kids in that age group could get the vaccine by early November. The Pfizer vaccine is currently approved for kids 12 and up.

As the vaccine companies look to vaccinate younger Americans, children as young as 3 are set to get the vaccine in parts of China. City and provincial level governments in at least five Chinese provinces issued notices in recent days saying children ages 3 to 11 will have to get vaccinated.

The expansion of the vaccination campaign comes as parts of China take new clampdown measures to try to stamp out small outbreaks. The National Health Commission reported 35 new cases of local transmission were detected Monday. A province heavily dependent on tourism closed all tourist sites Monday after finding new cases.

Only a few countries in the world have begun vaccinating children as young as 3. Another is Cuba, which began a vaccine drive for children as young as 2.