Moderna Pushes the Needle—For the Littlest Kids
On April 28, Moderna dropped a bombshell: they’re asking the U.S. regulators to give the green light to a COVID‑19 shot that could protect kids as young as six months old. If the FDA says yes, it would be a first‑starter for the mini‑army of under‑fives.
The Current Situation
Pfizer/BioNTech has already cleared their jab for kids five and older. But when they tested it on toddlers (2‑4 years), the antibodies didn’t fire as strong as in adults—so they’re extending the trial to see if an extra dose works. The big news? Pfizer expects data in April.
Moderna’s spokesperson, Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton, said, “This is a real unmet need. There’s no other vaccine or therapy that these tiny humans can get.” He added that if the data looks solid, it’ll be a public‑health win.
What the Numbers Say
- Moderna’s March data: Safe and gave young kids an immune response similar to adults.
- The trial ran amid the Omicron surge, the most evasive variant so far.
- Effectiveness:
- 38% against infection for ages 2‑5.
- 51% for the 6 months‑to‑2 years group.
Regulatory Back‑and‑Forth
Burton didn’t say when the FDA would review the request. Dr. Anthony Fauci hints the FDA might compare Pfizer’s data to Moderna’s in one grand pause‑meeting.
Parents are uncertain: only 28% of U.S. kids aged 5‑11 are fully vaccinated and kids often show milder COVID‑19 symptoms than adults.
COVID‑19 in the Bloodstream
The CDC reports that a whopping 75% of U.S. kids have antibodies from previous infections—most from the December‑February Omicron wave. Still, Burton urged parents to get their little ones vaccinated now: “It protects against severe disease, hospitalization, and long‑term side effects.”
Calls from the Pediatric Frontline
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) tweeted, “We need an authorized under‑5 vaccine ASAP.”
- AAP adds that other protective measures like masking are dwindling.
Bottom line: If the FDA clears the shot, it could be a game‑changer for the youngest generation and give parents—and doctors—a new safety net against the ever‑shifting virus.
