Moderna are enrolling roughly 13,275 participants in their vaccine trial for children – with the participants aged between six months to 12 years
The new study, yet to begin, will focus on how the mRNA vaccine works in younger children. So far, the clinical data for Moderna in 12 to 17 year olds suggests that the vaccine is 100% effective against COVID hospitalisation and death.
The adolescent study describes the vaccine as “generally well tolerated”, which generally follows how the vaccine was received by adults in Phase Three of the original clinical trials. The most common reaction was injection site pain, with headache, fatigue, muscle pain and chills after the second dose.
Moderna spokesman, Ray Jordan, confirmed that the new number of participants was increased after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked for the trial to include more safety data. Originally, the clinical trial for children was due to have around 7,000 participants.
In real-world data, Moderna has been found to remain 93% effective, six months after the second dose in adults.
Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, said: “We are pleased that our COVID-19 vaccine is showing durable efficacy of 93% through six months, but recognize that the Delta variant is a significant new threat so we must remain vigilant.”
The focus in the North is on children and infection
However, with children in some Global North countries returning to school in the wake of mass adult vaccination, now the focus is on how children will continue to circulate infections. There are scientific fears that despite double-vaccination, the Delta variant will continue to circulate without a global level of herd immunity.
Head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Sir Andrew Pollard, said yesterday (12 August): “Anyone who’s still unvaccinated, at some point, will meet the virus. That might not be this month or next month, it might be next year, but at some point they will meet the virus and we don’t have anything that will stop that transmission.”
at some point they will meet the virus
Currently, countries in the Global South are struggling to buy COVID vaccines. The WHO asked richer countries to hold off on booster shots, to allow some countries to access a limited supply of vaccines. However, no countries have currently announced plans to suspend their planned booster shot schedules.
