Covid vaccine for children aged six months and above approved in the US

The US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization and has approved the use of Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines in children aged six months and above.

Now Moderna's two-dose vaccine can be administered to children aged six months to five years. Three doses of Pfizer's shots for those between six months and four years old, reported AFP.

Food and Drug Administration chief Robert Califf said many parents, caregivers, and clinicians have been waiting for a vaccine for younger children. "This action will help protect those down to six months of age from hospitalisation and death".

The US government said 10 million doses can be sent across the country as the FDA has approved the move. Both vaccines have been tested on thousands of children in trials. They had similar levels of mild side effects as observed in older age groups, reported AFP.

However, the vaccines need to be approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before they are put to use. A meeting of an advisory committee of experts will be held shortly.

Both vaccines are based on messenger RNA that delivers genetic code for the coronavirus spike protein to human cells. This trains the immune system to be ready with antibodies for an occasion when an actual infection occurs.

Pfizer was found to have 80% efficiency in children aged six months to two years old. The data is from a smaller sample and is considered preliminary. It also takes three doses of the vaccine to achieve the necessary levels of protection. The second shot is given three weeks after the first and the third one is given eight weeks after that.

Moderna had 51% of efficiency in children aged six months to two years old and 37% for those aged two to five years. However, the data is based on a bigger sample size. Two doses of it are expected to provide strong protection. The doses are given four weeks apart.

The US has around 20 million children under the age of four years.