2020 was a very unexpected year as a certain virus outbreak turned over the entire world. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a virus that originated in China soon spread throughout the world, killing and affecting millions over the two years of its outbreak.
The outbreak seemed to worsen as variants of the virus with more adverse effects started to spread causing more trouble to the governments and the public. Luckily, COVID-19 vaccines were introduced a year after the outbreak. Since the introduction of vaccines, the mortality rate for the condition and the cases began to decrease.
So far only adults and teens were provided with the COVID-19 vaccines. Now, Moderna, America’s one of the biggest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, has sought authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide their Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for kids. Let’s look into the updates about vaccination for kids.
COVID Vaccine for Kids
FDA has allowed the COVID-19 vaccination for kids between the ages of 12-and 17 – WHO advised the vaccination to be done only when the vaccine requirement of 2 doses for the high priority groups has been achieved. WHO recognizes health workers who are highly exposed to the COVID-19 virus and older people as the high priority groups. Studies on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged below 12 are still ongoing.
Moderna Vaccine
The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA-1273) was accepted to be used by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). The vaccine can be taken by people with chronic lung disease, significant cardiac disease, severe obesity, diabetes, liver disease, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
WHO’s SAGE has accepted the usage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on pregnant women, given the severe effects of the virus on them.
It is recommended to use the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine in two doses (100 µg, 0.5 ml each) with a break of eight weeks.
What is in the Moderna Vaccine?
The Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine is composed of bio-chemical elements like lipids, salt, sugar, acids, acid stabilizers, and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) – Nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the viral spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2.
The vaccine does not contain any preservatives, antibiotics, tissues, food proteins, metals, latex, or medicines.
When will COVID Vaccine be Available for Kids Under 12?
Health Canada is expected to review the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for kids between the ages of six months to four years. Clinical trial results would be submitted by Spring 2022 after which the reports will be submitted to the organization to review later this year.
Moderna has requested authorization from US regulators for its COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of six. They have already released data of their recent trial in the month of March which proved the vaccine was safe and was noted to have a similar immune response in young children as adults. If approved, the vaccines will be available for children later in 2022.
