Moderna Says Its Covid-19 Vaccine Works Safely in Adolescents

Moderna Inc. said its Covid-19 vaccine was effective in children aged 12 to 17 in a new study, a finding that could clear the way for a second shot for use in adolescents.

The Cambridge, Mass., company said the vaccine induced immune responses among children that were comparable to those seen in a study of adults last year.

Also, there were no cases of symptomatic Covid-19 among vaccine recipients, Moderna said, suggesting 100% vaccine efficacy in adolescents, though overall very few among the 3,700 children in the study got sick.

Based on the results, Moderna said it plans in early June to request that regulators in the U.S. and other countries authorize the use of its vaccine in children aged 12 to 17 years.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration could make a decision within weeks of the request if it follows the same kind of timetable if took with Pfizer Inc.’s shot. The agency took about a month to clear Pfizer’s request for use of its Covid-19 vaccine in adolescents.

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