Testing of COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ongoing

As COVID-19 vaccination programs are being rolled out by governments for adults, pharmaceutical companies have started the next phase of testing vaccines for children. Even though less percentage of COVID-19 cases were involving children, medical experts are pushing for vaccinations for adults and children to control the pandemic.

"People try to minimize how sick kids get with COVID, but that's a mistake," said Brigham Willis, professor of pediatrics at UCRiverside's School of Medicine. "I work intensive pediatric care, and there's a minority who get extremely ill. There are some deaths. It's not a non-entity."

Pfizer reported that they have completed the enrollment of over 2,000 children with ages 12 to 15 years old who will participate in the testing of COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna also stated to test their vaccine to adolescents between ages 12 to 17. In China, China Biotech Group conducted the testing of their COVID-19 vaccine on children between the ages 3 and 17. Results showed that the vaccine is safe for children and adolescents. Other vaccine developers such as AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are also expected to test their vaccines in children soon.

Read more from Biotechnology Innovation Organization.