moderna launches trials of its vaccine on children

On March 16, the American laboratory announced that it was launching clinical trials of its vaccine on children from six months to 11 years old, in particular to determine the appropriate dosage according to their age.

Childhood vaccination, soon possible? On Tuesday March 16, the American company Moderna announced that it had started trials of its vaccine against covid-19 on children aged 6 months to 11 years. These tests will be carried out on 6750 children in total, followed for 12 months. If the safety and the mechanism of the vaccine for the youngest have already been studied, these tests aim to determine the most suitable dosage according to their age.

“Children often need lower doses of the vaccine than adults and we want to be sure that we find the best dose that increases their immunity,” explained Dr. Jacqueline Miller, pediatrician and head of Moderna's infectious disease therapeutics area. , from Good Morning America.

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Video by Sarah polak

If the trials are successful, this would be the first vaccine for the little ones. Indeed, currently, only Pfizer's anti-Covid vaccine is authorized for adolescents over 16 years of age.

Note that Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson had already launched clinical trials to test their vaccine on adolescents (from 12 years old) a few months ago. BFM TV adds that the AstraZeneca laboratory is also studying the effect of its vaccine from the age of 6.

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For Dr. Lee Savio Beers, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, immunizing children should be considered a "high priority." "Children under 10 transmit the virus less, but that doesn't mean they don't transmit it at all, including to people at risk", she said. For his part, Anthony Fauci, American immunologist and director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, estimates that children under 12 will be able to "very probably" be vaccinated in early 2022.

Elise Poiret

Journalist specializing in parenthood, Elise writes for aufeminin and Parole de mamans. She is also very involved in the fight for women's rights.

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