COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Under 12 Expected Late This Year

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The head of the National Institutes of Health has indicated that a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12 may not be ready until late 2021. Following the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for those aged 12 and older, parents and families were relieved by the rapid development. However, recent updates suggest that the vaccine for younger children might still be months away.

The FDA recently granted full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged 16 and above, while the vaccine remains under emergency use authorization for those aged 12 to 15. The pressing question is when the vaccine will be available for kids under 12.

Dr. Francis Collins, NIH director, shared in an NPR interview that both Pfizer and Moderna are currently conducting trials for the vaccine in younger children. While older kids and teens receive the same dose as adults, there are concerns about whether children aged 5 to 11 may require a smaller dose. Dr. Sarah Thompson, director of the Vaccine Research Center at Springfield Children’s Hospital, noted that preliminary findings suggest that children aged 5-12 develop a strong immune response with just one-third of the adult dose, but further studies are necessary.

Despite these encouraging results, Collins mentioned that if Pfizer submits their data for FDA review by the end of September, as they have indicated they will, full approval might not be granted until late in the year. “To be frank, I don’t anticipate the approval for children aged 5 to 11 happening much before the end of 2021,” he stated.

Dr. Emma Williams, head of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, echoed this sentiment, explaining that the vaccine developers are still in the trial phase regarding efficacy and dosage. “The FDA will move quickly once the data is submitted, but first, the trials need to be completed, or at least the sections that can be submitted for review,” Williams clarified. Additionally, the FDA has requested four to six months of follow-up safety data from the children’s trials, whereas adult trials only required two months.

While this news may be disappointing for families eager for vaccination options for younger children, the American Academy of Pediatrics has urged the FDA to expedite the authorization process for children aged 11 and younger. Like everything related to the pandemic, we must take it one day at a time.

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In summary, the timeline for a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12 is still uncertain, with expectations now leaning towards late 2021 for potential approval. As trials continue, parents are advised to stay informed and patient.

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