When will children receive COVID vaccines?

MONDAY, February 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) – For parents who have questions about COVID-19 vaccines and children, the medical experts at Johns Hopkins have answers.

While adult vaccinations are underway in the United States, clinical trials of the first COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration have not yet been completed for children and adolescents under the age of 16. .

Before this age group can receive a vaccine, the FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must accept clinical trial results showing vaccines are safe and effective in young people, Dr Aaron explained. Milstone, professor of pediatrics at the Hopkins’ School of Medicine. and Dr Kawsar Talaat, assistant professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore.

Currently, Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is approved by the FDA for use in people 16 years of age and older, while children ages 12 to 15 have been recruited into clinical trials of the vaccine.

The Moderna vaccine has been approved by the FDA for use in people 18 years of age and older, while children aged 12 to 17 are enrolled in vaccine trials.

COVID-19 vaccines for children over 12 may be authorized in late spring or early summer, but it may be late 2021 or 2022 before vaccines are authorized for children under 12 , said the doctors.

When children can get vaccinated will depend on the vaccine supply, experts noted in a Hopkins press release. Currently, vaccines are distributed to groups of people based on priorities.

Until young people can get vaccinated, parents should protect their children from COVID-19 by continuing to practice prevention measures, such as wearing face masks, maintaining a safe physical distance from others and practicing proper hand hygiene, advised Milstone and Talaat.

More information

The American Academy of Pediatrics has more on COVID-19[female[feminine.

SOURCE: Johns Hopkins Medicine, press release, February 9, 2021