![]() The FDA review said its latest analysis of reports of myocarditis both in the U.S. That’s mostly a risk for teen boys and young men, and also can occur with the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA has held up Moderna’s teen vaccine for months while it investigated a rare side effect, heart inflammation. The FDA review released Friday also included an analysis of the company’s shots for that age group. On Tuesday, the FDA’s advisers will consider Moderna shots for older kids, those 6 to 17 - a decision that might alleviate some parent confusion. But it’s unclear how many ultimately will, given disappointing vaccine uptake by older children.Īccording to the CDC, just 29% of kids ages 5 to 11 have gotten two doses, and about 60% of 12- to 17-year-olds. There are roughly 18 million children younger than 5, and many parents are eager to get their tots vaccinated. There’s no firm guidance on how long to wait the CDC has said people may wait as long as three months. It’s a question sure to come up as CDC’s advisers make recommendations for the littlest kids, so stay tuned.įor older ages, the CDC has recommended vaccination anyway to lower the chances of reinfection. The Biden administration says it also is working with a variety of other groups, such as children’s museums, to offer pop-up clinics and reach even more youngsters.Ībout three-quarters of children of all ages are estimated to have been infected at some point during the pandemic. Limited drugstores will offer them for at least some of the under-5 group - parents should check local availability for different ages. Pediatricians, other primary care physicians and children’s hospitals are expected to vaccinate most of the youngest kids. If all those steps fall into place, vaccinations could begin in many areas June 21. ![]() Rochelle Walensky, should come shortly after they’re done. The CDC’s own vaccine advisers are scheduled to meet next Friday and Saturday, and a final decision by the CDC’s director, Dr. Which tots should get COVID-19 vaccination will be an important debate as the coronavirus doesn’t tend to make children as sick as adults yet nearly 500 deaths in U.S. That agency recommends how to use vaccines. If the FDA authorizes one or both shots - a decision expected shortly after its advisory panel’s meeting - all eyes move to the CDC. Moderna recently added a booster dose to the tot study - and disclosed in a presentation for Wednesday’s meeting that it also plans to allow participants a chance to help test an omicron-targeting booster. They also said that it was likely that a booster would be needed, based on the experience with adults. In their review, FDA scientists noted the study was too short to determine how long the vaccine’s effectiveness would last. But while there were no severe cases of COVID-19 during the trial, the vaccine was only about 40% to 50% effective at preventing milder infections. Moderna’s study found tots ages 6 months through 5 years developed high antibody levels after two of its shots. But that calculation was based on just 10 cases diagnosed among study participants by the end of April, and it could change if more cases have occurred since. In addition, the vaccine appeared 80% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19. Pfizer’s preliminary data showed after three shots, children developed high levels of virus-fighting antibodies with no safety problems. So researchers tested a third shot in youngsters age 6 months through 4 years during the winter surge of the omicron variant. Pfizer disappointed parents back in December when a study found two shots weren’t quite strong enough. ![]() Only a handful of countries, including China and Cuba, have offered different types of COVID-19 vaccinations to children younger than 5. And the week won’t even start with the littlest kid debate: Moderna first will ask FDA’s advisers to support its vaccine for older children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must recommend whether all tots need immunization or just those at high risk from the virus.Īdding to the complexity, each company is offering different dose sizes and number of shots. If the FDA’s advisers endorse one or both shots for them - and the FDA agrees - there’s still another hurdle. Kids under 5 are the only group not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. A federal review of Pfizer’s vaccine for the littlest kids is expected by Monday. The FDA weighed in late Friday with its own analysis of Moderna’s vaccine, finding the shots appear safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old. On Wednesday, both Moderna and Pfizer will have to convince what’s essentially a science court - advisers to the Food and Drug Administration - that their shots work well in babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Parents anxious to finally vaccinate their youngest children against COVID-19, strap in: A lot is set to happen over the next week.
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