The Conversation: The Moderna vaccine is now available for 6 to 11 year olds. Here’s what parents need to know
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is now approved for use in children aged 6 to 11 years. With just under half of Australian primary-school-age children having received their first COVID vaccine dose, the approval of Moderna’s COVID vaccine provides parents with an additional opportunity to protect their children against severe disease.
Following the KidCOVE clinical trial, this article explores the ongoing safety and efficacy as well as the considerations and administrative recommendations for the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in the 6 to 11 years cohort.
To read the full article, follow the link below.
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine (SPIKEVAX) provisionally approved for use in individuals 6 years and older
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, SPIKEVAX, for use in individuals aged 6 years and older. This follows provisional approvals granted by the TGA to Moderna for the use of SPIKEVAX in individuals aged 12 years and older on 3 September 2021, and on 7 December 2021 the SPIKEVAX booster dose for use in adults 18 years and older.
The TGA carefully assessed the data following the KidCOVE clinical trial which included up to 4,000 participants aged 6 to 11 years across the US and Canada, demonstrating that the immune response to the vaccine in children was similar to that seen in older age groups.
In addition to this, clinical data showed that the safety profile in children is similar to that seen in adults. The most frequent side effects in this age cohort were short term and non-severe. These included injection site pain, redness and/or swelling, axillary (groin) swelling or tenderness, fatigue, headache, fever and muscle pain.
Further advice on the rollout of SPIKEVAX to this age group will be provided to the Government by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
To read the statement in full, please click on the link below:
CDC: Effectiveness of Maternal Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization in Infants Aged <6 Months — 17 States, July 2021–January 2022
A recent CDC report revealed that maternal completion of a 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine course during pregnancy reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation amongst infants <6 months. Data revealed that of 176 COVID-19 related paediatric hospitalisations, 148 (84%) of infants were born to mothers who were not vaccinated during pregnancy.
Transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV2-specific antibodies that may provide protection to infants is evident in women vaccinated during the later stages of pregnancy. Detectable COVID-19 antibodies were also present in breast milk, indicating a transfer of maternal antibodies to the baby.
This study demonstrates that mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant and breast-feeding women is safe and effective and provides increased protection to the baby.
To read the report in full, follow the link below:
CDC: Effectiveness of Maternal Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization in Infants Aged <6 Months — 17 States, July 2021–January 2022
Contemporary Pediatrics: Novavax pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial yields positive results
Novavax’s protein-based recombinant nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine NVC-CoV2373 has demonstrated an 80% overall efficacy in paediatric trials against the Delta variant.
The paediatric trial included 2247 adolescent participants between the ages of 12 to 17 years, of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, across 73 sites in the United States.
“We are encouraged by the results in this adolescent population given the ongoing need for alternative vaccine options for COVID-19,” said Filip Dubovsky, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Novavax, in the statement.
To read the full press release, follow the link below:
Novavax pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial yields positive results
The Washington Post: Coronavirus vaccine for young children further delayed as FDA reverses course, says it will wait for data on three doses
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced it won’t make a decision on whether to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 5 until data on a third dose becomes available.
The vaccine trial that commenced on 20th January, was designed to test the safety and efficacy of a lower dose of vaccine and was reported to include 3,900 children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years.
To understand if two doses would provide sufficient protection in children younger than 5, Pfizer and BioNTech have been testing two 3-microgram doses, a small fraction of the adult dose. Smaller doses are expected to trigger an equivalent immune response in children, indicating strong protection.
With the study advancing at a rapid pace, Pfizer and BioNTech will opt to wait for the three-dose data suggesting it may provide a higher level of protection in this age group.
Click on the link below to read the article in full:
The Washington Post: Coronavirus vaccine for young children further delayed as FDA reverses course, says it will wait for data on three doses
ABC: Children with COVID-19 are at risk of a rare complication. Will Omicron make MIS-C more common?
Paediatricians flag a surge in paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome following COVID-19 infection, with more than 6,000 cases reported in the US and 35 in Australia. PIMS-TS is most common in children around the age of 9, weeks after they’ve experienced a mild or asymptomatic case of COVID-19. Currently, doctors have not been able to identify an exact causal effect, but some scientists believe a child’s body can have a delayed reaction to the virus.
“We are getting much better now at recognising the syndrome and treating it” explains Associate Professor Nigel Crawford.
While this complication is very rare, scientists are currently uncertain whether the highly infectious Omicron variant will perpetuate a spike in PIMS-TS occurrences.
Follow the link below to read the full article:
Children with COVID-19 are at risk of a rare complication. Will Omicron make MIS-C more common?
ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 12 January 2022
Following recent data, ATAGI recommends that severely immunocompromised children between the ages of 5 to 11 years receive a 3rd primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to optimise their protection against COVID-19 infection.
Current data has not identified any concerning safety signals in this cohort. ATAGI continues to review and closely monitor reports regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in this age group.
This statement provides a concise summary of the January ATAGI meeting, including the latest recommendations and considerations regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 years.
To read the full statement, follow the link below:
ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting - 12 January 2022
The Conversation: Is your child frightened of needles? Here’s how to prepare them for their COVID vaccine
Most children are fearful of needles and approximately one in five kids (19%) aged 4-6 years old experience needle phobia.
A child’s initial interaction with needles in their primary years may be formative for their relationship with immunisations throughout their lives. As such, it’s important to cultivate a safe and positive vaccination experience.
This article discusses techniques and strategies to help prepare children for vaccination, including accessing professional help from play and child life therapists for those with needle phobia.
To read the full article, please follow the link below:
Is your child frightened of needles? Here’s how to prepare them for their COVID vaccine
ABC News: What you need to consider if you’re planning to travel overseas with your unvaccinated kids
With international borders now open in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, experts are urging people to plan trips carefully, especially when accompanied by unvaccinated children.
Dr Daryl Cheng, Fellow at the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne shares his key recommendations for parents travelling overseas with unvaccinated kids, including weighing up the risks and benefits, and the importance of being well prepared and familiar with local health systems in their travel destinations.
Follow the link below to read the full article:
What you need to consider if you’re planning to travel overseas with your unvaccinated kids
New educational resource: Generation Next course on COVID and kids
MVEC has collaborated with the team at Generation Next on a new resource featuring Dr Daryl Cheng to provide helpful strategies to get kids back to school safely and reduce transmission of COVID-19 in this group.
Course content reflects the combined efforts of immunisation paediatricians, adult physicians, immunisation nurses, infectious disease, and allergy specialists, as well as infection control teams. The information works to provide guidance and support for parents and communities to ensure a safe transition to a new COVID normal.
To enrol in this free course, please click on the link below:
Next Generation course: Covid and kids