So far, all states besides Florida have preordered vaccines for young children.
For the youngest kids:
Additionally, the FDA authorized Moderna’s vaccine forchildren aged 6 through 17.
Throughout the pandemic, roughly one in four children required ICU admission.
Verywell / Photo Illustration by Laura Porter / Getty Images
This means Moderna recipients may need three shots to be fully protected and Pfizer vaccinees may eventually need four.
The manufacturers each tested several dose sizes to minimize the risk of fever and other side effects in kids.
Pfizers Efficacy & Safety Data
Pfizer initially asked the FDA to authorize a two-dose series.
It does worry me actually that there was no protection after dose two, he said.
Adding a third dose boosted efficacy to about 80%, according to additional data presented by Pfizer officials.
But that data was based on about cases in only three vaccinated and seven placebo participants.
Besides, some panelists questioned the feasibility of asking parents to have their kids vaccinated three times.
I wonder whether parents will understand that.
Only six vaccine recipients experienced a high-grade fever and none were hospitalized.
There were no cases of a severe reaction.
But he said he considered the data to be imprecise and potentially unstable.
The company said this is on par with the protectiveness of vaccines in adults infected with Omicron.
Side Effects from the Moderna Vaccine
The side effects were mostly mild and moderate.
About a quarter of the infants experienced fevermost were moderate and resolved after two days.
One study participant experienced a fever and seizure related to the vaccine.
Moderna is also currently testing boosters for this age group.
Its Up to Parents to Make Vaccine Decisions
Some parents remain resistant to having their children vaccinated.
Other panelists urged their colleagues not to downplay the significance of COVID-19 as a pediatric disease with far-reaching consequences.
I think we owe it to them to give them the choice.
What This Means For You
Vaccines for young kids and adolescents may become available later this week.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
Published online May 20, 2022.Clin Infect Dis.
doi:10.1093/cid/ciac388
Food and Drug Administration.
Food and Drug Administration.Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting June 14-15, 2022.
