This Wednesday, experts gave the green light to vaccinate children from the age of 6 months in the United States.
This Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in the United States, a new step was taken in the fight against Covid-19. American experts, members of an advisory committee, have pronounced in favor of the vaccination of infants from the age of 6 months with doses of Moderna and Pfizer. For many countries, this age group remains the last not to have had access to this protection. In France, only 5-11 year olds can be vaccinated since last December, vaccination is not open to children under 5 years old.
After long months of research, the 21 members of the advisory committee reviewed the results of the clinical trials conducted in children aged six months to 4 years for Pfizer, and six months to 5 years for Moderna. All unanimously felt that the benefits of vaccinating toddlers outweighed any risks.
A dosage adapted to infants
When the FDA (US Medicines Agency) and the CDC (US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control) also give the green light, 10 million doses will immediately be sent to all corners of the United States. CDC experts will give their opinions at the end of the week, whether or not to start the injections next Tuesday.
Obviously, the dosage of the vaccines has been reduced to meet the needs of the youngest. It’s about quarter dose for Moderna (25 micrograms, versus 100 for adults) and a tenth for Pfizer (3 micrograms, versus 30).
The number of reminders also differs depending on the product: Moderna’s vaccine is given in two doses one month apart, whereas the one proposed by Pfizer will be done in three injectionsthe first two at three week intervals, and the third administered eight weeks after the second.
Mild side effects
A preliminary estimate was made in order to ascertain the effectiveness of the vaccines. Pfizer-BioNTech has been shown to be 80% effective against symptomatic forms of the disease in toddlers compared to 51% in babies 6 months to less than 2 years old, and 37% in children 2 to 5 years old for Moderna. Results consistent with the efficacy observed in adults against the Omicron variant.
However, some mild side effects have been observed. About a quarter of young children who received Moderna have developed a fever, especially after the second dose. This usually subsided the next day. At Pfizer, the fever rate observed was comparable between children who received the vaccine and those who received a placebo.
The arrival of vaccination for babies divides. While many parents eagerly await the vaccination of their children, others are more skeptical. In early May, a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that only one in five parents (18%) wanted to have their child vaccinated less than 5 years old.
For the moment, the vaccination of infants is not authorized in France but could be envisaged in the months to come.
Since May 2021, Pauline has joined the Aufeminin team. A journalism student, Pauline is currently on a work-study program and writes for the Aufeminin and Parole de Mamans websites. Curious and passionate, she…