Following an advisory board from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CDC has also spoken out against the use of coronavirus vaccines in children between the ages of six months and five years. Both the vaccine from the manufacturers Biontech and Pfizer and the preparation from Moderna could be used for about 18 million small children, the experts decided on Saturday.
This means that nothing stands in the way of vaccination in the age group after the formal signing by CDC chief Rochelle Walensky. According to the US government, it could start on June 21. The vaccine is already approved for older children.
Not yet approved in the EU
There is currently no corona vaccine approved for very young children in the EU. The European Medicines Agency EMA in Amsterdam is currently investigating whether the vaccine from the manufacturer Moderna (Spikevax) can also be approved for children under six years of age. Such a test has not yet started for the vaccine from the manufacturers Biontech and Pfizer. According to the EMA, the manufacturers have not yet submitted a corresponding application for renewal of the approval.
“This infection is killing children and we have a chance to prevent that,” Beth Bell, one of the doctors on the advisory panel, said after the vote. The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to make the vaccines available to the under-five age group as early as next week. They should be delivered to places parents know, such as pharmacies, pediatric clinics, and pediatric practices. However, it is unclear whether many parents will also have their children vaccinated. In October, the Biontech vaccine for children ages five to 11 was approved. According to US authorities, only about 29 percent of children in this age group are fully vaccinated.
Authorities urge vaccination before school starts
The US authorities have pushed for vaccinations for children before the new school year. They hope this will help prevent a surge in hospitalizations and deaths should there be a new wave of coronavirus. Corona disease in children is usually quite mild. Still, as of March 2020, it is the fifth leading cause of death in children one to four years old and the fourth leading cause of death in children under one year of age, according to the CDC.
Next week, the CDC’s advisers want to talk about whether they support the use of the Moderna vaccine for children and adolescents between the ages of six and 17. There are concerns about rare cases of heart disease in boys and young teenage men that have been linked to the Moderna vaccine.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
