CanSino’s Lower‑Dose Vaccine Gives Kids a Strong Punch
In a fresh take on delivering Covid‑19 protection to kids, CanSino Biologics has tweaked its single‑dose vaccine to use a smaller amount than what adults receive. The tweak turns out to be a winning move for children aged 6 to 17.
Why the dose got cut down
- Some early volunteers were hit with fever and headaches—both at the second‑lowest severity level on a four‑point scale.
- In response, the team dialed the dose back to avoid those mild side effects.
Kids are producing more antibodies than adults
The study, enrolling 150 kids and roughly 300 adults, found that the lower dose spurs higher antibody levels in children than the full adult dose approved in China. That’s like giving a child a full sandwich of immunity with a single, smaller bite.
Better still than the adult booster
Kids who received one dose actually had a stronger antibody response than adults who got an extra booster – shot at 56 days after their first injection. It’s a surprising win‑win for the younger generation.
What we don’t yet know
While the antibody numbers look promising, researchers at a Chinese disease‑control agency, along with CanSinoBIO and other institutes, caution that the data do not yet confirm how well the vaccine protects against Covid‑19. In plain terms: a big thumbs up for immune response, but the ultimate shield remains to be proven.
The path forward
- CanSino’s vaccine still needs the official green light for pediatric use.
- China has already cleared Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines for kids as young as 3, yet vaccines for those under 12 have yet to roll out.
- Researchers note that while an extra shot improves antibody levels across all ages, especially for older adults, it doesn’t boost cellular immunity—an essential part of the immune system’s depth.
- They suggest that a longer interval between shots (more than 56 days) might be the key to a fuller immune answer.
For now, the lower‑dose approach looks like a personal best for kids, turning a small jab into a robust immune blast. Next steps? Holding the ceremony for approval and fine‑tuning timing to hit all the right marks.
