Moderna says low-dose COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, young children

Moderna has announced has a COVID-19 vaccine that works in babies, toddlers and young children.

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The company is now going to request the government for emergency use authorization within weeks, The Associated Press reported.

When Moderna submits the data to the Food and Drug Administration, the agency will debate if it should authorize the vaccine’s emergency use, then the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will have the final sign-off.

Once that happens the vaccine could be dispensed to children under the age of 6 by this summer, the AP reported.

The formula is a smaller dose for children from the age of 6 months to 5 years old. It was 44% effective in preventing an omicron infection for children between the age of 6 months and 2 years old and 38% effective for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old, CNBC reported.

None of the children developed a severe case of COVID-19 and breakthrough cases were mild, Moderna said, according to CNBC.

Children under the age of 5 are the only part of the population that has not had a coronavirus vaccine. Pfizer does have a smaller dose of its vaccine for school-aged children and full dose shots for children 12 and older, the AP reported.

Pfizer is also testing a smaller dose vaccine for kids up to the age of 5 but had to add a third dose for it to be effective. The test results are expected to be released next month, the AP reported.

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