The American pharmaceutical company released data from a new study about the Covid-19 vaccine on children aged 6 to 11. The FDA, EMA, and other health regulators will receive the data in the near future. For the clinical study, 4,753 children under 12 years old were administered two 50 micrograms doses of the mRNA-1273 serum. Each dose was half of the dose administered to adults.
Findings and future implications
The participants showed a great response to the Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, and the strong immune response proves the mRNA-1273 serum is effective in protecting them against the new coronavirus. The vaccine was well-tolerated, and the antibody levels were 1.5 times higher than those measured in young adults from a previous clinical trial. The most common side effects were headaches, fever, fatigue, and pain around the injected area.
A monitoring committee will keep track of the participants for a year since they received the second dose of the Covid-19 Moderna serum. The clinical study is not over, and in Phase 2/3, 5700 children between 6 months to 6 years old will be administered the mRNA-1273 serum.
Moderna’s Chief Executive releases a statement about the study
Stéphane Bancel , Chief Executive Office of Moderna declared:
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.’
Many schools worldwide have been closed due to the pandemic
As children in many countries begin a new school year in September, parents are scared of the highly contagious and aggressive Delta variant. In the U.S and worldwide, many schools resort to online classes due to the detection of Covid-19 cases in staff and students. The cold season in some parts of the world has coincided with the fourth wave of the pandemic. Many cannot wait to get their children vaccinated to benefit from the extra protection against the new coronavirus.