Moderna seeks to use vaccine for adolescents
A vial of the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna sits on a table top to be used in vaccinating employees in the first round of staff vaccinations at Rose Medical Center Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Denver.[David Zalubowski/Associated Press]
Moderna Inc. has filed a request with the European Medicines Agency for its COVID-19 vaccine to be granted authorization for use in adolescents.
In a statement on Monday, Moderna said it had filed data for a conditional marketing approval in the 27-nation EU bloc to expand its coronavirus vaccine to children, beyond the green light it received in January for use in adults 18 and over. If authorized, it would be the second COVID-19 vaccine for children to be cleared in the EU. Last month, the European drug regulator approved the shot made by Pfizer and BioNTech for children aged 12 to 15.
“We are encouraged that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was highly effective at preventing COVID…in adolescents,” the company said in a statement. Moderna has also filed for authorization to use its vaccine under emergency use regulations in the U.S. and Canada.