You can get the COVID-19 vaccine, but children cannot. Why not, and when they could

Since the beginning of the pandemic, questions have flourished around the role children could play in contracting and spreading COVID-19. And yet, as the deployment of coronavirus vaccinations continues to increase, one group – the children – has been conspicuously absent from one of the priority groups. Although children represent a small but significant percentage of coronavirus cases, a few of these patients have experienced some of the most serious symptoms of COVID-19. What’s more, research has shown that children are responsible for at least part of the spread of the virus. So why aren’t children getting immunized yet?

The answers have a lot to do with how vaccines are developed and tested in general, and the fact that none of the vaccines currently in use in the United States have been approved for children under the age of 16. But there is also a particular quirk with this coronavirus that actually helps – namely, that children tend to have a higher recovery rate from COVID-19 than almost any other age group. Plus, kids aren’t the only group specifically told not to get the coronavirus shot (keep reading to find out who else should skip the vaccination line).

Here, we’ll take a look at which companies are currently testing their vaccines in children, and try to find out when these vaccines could be licensed and distributed. This story is not intended to be used as medical advice.

When will a coronavirus vaccine for children be released?

Although Pfizer Corona virus The vaccine is currently only licensed in people aged 16 and over, which is expected to change when the results are drawn from the companies’ clinical trials. As of the end of January, Pfizer’s trial is now fully enrolled, including children ages 12 to 15. The company declined to provide an estimate of when the research is likely to end, but in general, clinical trials in the United States have progressed faster than expected, in part due to the country’s high rate of infection.

For its vaccine, which is approved for adults 18 years and older, Moderna has also started clinical trials focusing on 12 to 17 year olds. So far, however, the company has struggled to find enough volunteers to conduct its study. Parents can volunteer online to allow their teenage children to participate, but Moderna says about 800 of the roughly 3,000 volunteers needed per month have signed up.

Despite Moderna’s setbacks, pediatricians expect adolescent vaccines to be allowed this year. Young children, however, can have much longer to wait. Regarding trials for children under 12, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel told Business Insider in January: “We need to get older and start at a lower dose. So we should not anticipate clinical data in 2021, but more in 2020. “

Why can’t children get the coronavirus vaccine?

In a nutshell, vaccines have not been authorized for children because they have not yet been specifically tested on children. This is normal – vaccines are usually tested first in adults before researchers begin testing in children, after the drug has been shown to be relatively safe in adults. So far, of the several dozen COVID-19 vaccines in development, including those from Pfizer and Moderna, none have yet been tested in children aged 12 or younger.

Another factor is that COVID-19 mostly seems to spare children from the worst outcomes. A September CDC report counted just 121 children among the 190,000 people who have so far died in the United States from coronavirus.

Other research has shown that children catch and spread the coronavirus about half as much as adults, although they are still seen as vectors for the spread of COVID-19, especially among high-risk populations. For example, a CDC report this summer highlighted a summer camp in Georgia where the coronavirus spread, leading to more than 250 children and young adults testing positive for COVID-19.

If you’re curious about what the experience of getting a COVID-19 vaccine looks like, check out these reports from CNET’s Eric Mack on how it went. his first dose of vaccine and then his second three weeks later. Remember that even if you get the vaccine, it is important to continue to wear masks and social distances until the experts give the green light.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended for health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.