Moderna’s Spikevax Cleared for Toddlers and Babies!
MHRA Gives the Green Light
The MHRA has officially authorised Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years. The jab meets all safety, quality, and effectiveness standards with no new safety concerns spotted. This approval followed a thorough review by the Commission on Human Medicines.
Second Vaccine for the Tiny Tots
Spikevax is now the second COVID-19 vaccine licensed for youngsters in this age bracket. Pfizer/BioNTech’s Comirnaty beat it to the punch, securing approval for kids aged 6 months to 4 years back in December 2022.
Dosage and Side Effects
For little ones, the vaccine is given as two 25-microgram shots, one month apart, injected into the upper arm or thigh. MHRA experts scrutinised data from a clinical trial involving 6,388 children and found side effects were mild and expected for this age group.
Next Step: JCVI Decision
Now, it’s up to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to decide if Spikevax will be rolled out in the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme for the under-fives.
