Moderna, on Wednesday, stated that its COVID-19 vaccine provided similar protection in children as in the adults, as per interim data.

The study included 6,900 children aged 6 months to 5 years. A comparable immune response was observed after administering two doses of 25-microgram of its COVID-19 vaccine in children and two doses of 100-microgram in adults aged 18 to 25 years. About 43.7% efficacy was seen in children aged 6 months to 1 year and 37.5% efficacy was observed among children ages 2-5 years. Mild to moderate adverse reactions were seen, mostly after the second dose. No deaths or any case of myocarditis or pericarditis were reported.

The company further said that studies were being planned for evaluating the effect of booster shot for all children above 6 months which would be aimed at neutralizing the original as well as the Omicron variant. 

It had initiated a submission to the FDA for emergency use authorization among children ages 6 months to 11 years, who would get two shots of a 50-microgram dose of the vaccine. It had provided additional follow-up data on its vaccine for children ages 12 to 17 years, who would receive two shots of a larger 100-microgram dose of the vaccine. (CNN, March 23, 2022)