Seek emergency authorization

Moderna to seek emergency authorization for Covid vaccine for young kids

The company says its shot is safe, effective for youngest children.

By KATHERINE ELLEN FOLEY

Moderna announced Wednesday that its Covid-19 vaccine generated immunity protection for children 6 months to 6 years old.

In a trial of roughly 6,700 children in the age groups, two doses of 25 micrograms of the vaccine generated similar immune protection against the virus in kids as two 100 microgram-doses of the vaccine did for young adults. However, as the Omicron wave hit the U.S., real-world effectiveness was less robust: Kids 6 months to 2 years were 43.7 percent protected and kids 2 to 6 were 37.5 protected against any form of disease, though no children developed severe disease.

Side effects were similar in kids as they were adults. No one in the trial developed severe side effects, including myocarditis or pericarditis.

And for older kids: The company also announced that it had begun submitting data to Food and Drug Administration to authorize its vaccine for kids 6 to 11 years old, and that it was submitting additional data for those 12 to 17.

Background: In fourth quarter earnings calls earlier this year, the company said it would be decreasing the dose size for the youngest children.

What’s next: The company plans to ask the FDA to authorize the vaccine for this age group in the coming weeks. It is also planning to study booster doses for kids.