Students from the first grade can be vaccinated against COVID-19 until September, predicted the White House chief medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, in an interview published by ProPublica on Thursday.
Fauci cited clinical tests now underway in the US by vaccine developers Pfizer and Moderna to test the safety and efficacy of doses in children. He had previously said that the Food and Drug Administration may allow vaccinations in American children “when it comes to late spring and early summer”.
So far, except for a handful of mistakes, the national launch of the vaccine did not include children.
Based on the initial survey sent by Pfizer, the FDA authorized use of this vaccine for recipients aged 16 or over. Moderna Photos are authorized for over 18 years.
Now, Fauci said in the interview: “We are in the process of starting clinical trials in what we call age reduction, where you do a clinical trial with people aged 16 to 12, after 12 to 9, after 9 to 6. “
Earlier this year, federal authorities encouraged families to participate in clinical trials launched by manufacturers of drugs for younger individuals, which will start with teenagers and then expand to include younger children.
“It is really very important for all of us, for the entire population of America, to realize that we cannot have that indication unless 12 to 18 year olds decide to participate,” Dr. Moncef Slaoui, head of the Trump administration’s vaccination effort, said at a press conference in January.
Spokesmen for both vaccine developers confirmed to CBS News the estimated deadlines for their teen trials, which were first reported by ProPublica. Pfizer expects data for its doses in children aged 12 to 15 “in early 2021”, while Moderna says data for individuals aged 12 to 17 will be available “around mid-2021”.
Fauci’s comments were made at a time when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are due to launch a new guideline on Friday for the safer reopening of K-12 schools.
CDC’s guidance for schools should echo many of the mitigation recommendations already established by the agency, such as ensuring that teachers and students wear masks, maintain adequate social distance and practice good “hand hygiene”. Guidelines for implementing a strong contact and isolation and quarantine tracking program should also be included.
The CDC cited classroom surveys that were able to reopen or remain open during last year’s pandemic, with few cases of COVID-19 and most students reporting wearing masks.
Although public health experts said that vaccines are not needed for face-to-face classes, the CDC recognized last week that immunizations could help schools return to some of the school activities – such as indoor sports or competitions – that have been associated with outbreaks.
In general, children are considered to be at lower risk of contracting COVID-19 than adults, but they can still contract it and pass it on to others. Many children have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, but some have become seriously ill or have developed long-term health problems. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that there have been more than 2.9 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in children and at least 227 deaths.
“With 2 vaccines being distributed under Emergency Use Authorizations and more vaccine options scheduled to be available in the coming months, there is a lot of hope on the horizon,” wrote the CDC’s top officials last month.
The agency has already updated several other parts of its COVID-19 guidance this week, including a recommendation on Wednesday to wear a cloth mask over a disposable mask and now allowing some fully vaccinated Americans to skip quarantine requirements.