Moderna requests emergency authorization from the U.S. to vaccinate adolescents

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – U.S. laboratory Moderna announced Thursday, June 10, that it has applied to US regulators for emergency use authorization of its vaccine against Covid-19 in adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age.

The biotech firm also requested authorization this week from the European Union and Canada and has announced its intention to do so in other countries, assuring “high effectiveness in preventing Covid-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection” in this age group.

“We are encouraged that Moderna’s vaccine was highly effective in preventing Covid-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infections in adolescents,” the firm’s CEO, Stephane Bancel, said in a statement.

Moderna reiterated that the petition is based on a study conducted with 3,700 people in the United States, which showed that the product is safe and 100% effective in adolescents, according to data it made public in May.

Regarding side effects, Moderna cited situations similar to those recorded in older people, such as arm pain, fatigue and headaches.

So far, the U.S. pharmaceutical company’s vaccine is only used in people over 18 years of age and, if approved, it would become the second vaccine to receive the green light for use in adolescents, after that of Pfizer/BioNTech, already authorized in the United States, Europe and Canada.

Moderna, like Pfizer, has ongoing studies with younger children, between 6 months and 11 years of age.

The biotech company also applied this month to U.S. regulators for full approval of its vaccine for adults, which would allow it, among other things, to sell doses directly to consumers and to continue marketing the vaccine once the health emergency is declared over.