Moderna has said that its mRNA Covid-19 jab is safe and effective for children aged 6 to 11, adding that they are “committed” to ending the pandemic with a vaccine for “children of all ages.”
The announcement was made after the pharmaceutical giant tested a lower-than-normal dose of its vaccine on children between the ages of 6 and 11. The study involved 4,753 participants, each of whom either received the vaccine or a placebo. Each received two doses of the jab, administered around one month apart.
The most common side-effects reported were headaches, fever, pain where the vaccine was injected, and fatigue. However, the company claims that the trials showed that overall the jab was safe and effective for the younger age demographic.
“We look forward to filing with regulators globally and remain committed to doing our part to help end the Covid-19 pandemic with a vaccine for adults and children of all ages,” said Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO.
The mRNA jab was approved for adults in the EU in January 2021, and it is now available for children aged 12 to 17 within the bloc.
European regulators are currently reviewing the vaccine of rival pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to decide whether to offer it to children aged 5 to 11.
Last week Swedish health officials decided that a moratorium on extending the Moderna jab to anyone under 31 should be extended indefinitely due to concerns of rare heart inflammation.
Sweden extends pause of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine in young people https://t.co/drX3D3j3Qi via @MailOnline
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) October 24, 2021
Finland, Iceland and Denmark have made similar moves. Norway is discouraging men under-30 from receiving the Moderna jab, but is not mandating its removal from the rollout.