Moderna Requests Authorization for COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Under 6

On Thursday, Moderna asked U.S. regulators to authorize low doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 6, a long-awaited move toward potentially opening shots for millions of tots by summer, according to The Associated Press.

"Frustrated families are waiting impatiently for a chance to protect the nation’s littlest kids as all around them people shed masks and other public health precautions -- even though highly contagious coronavirus mutants continue to spread," writes Lauran Neergaard for AP.

Moderna seeks to be 1st with COVID shots for littlest kids (Lauran Neergaard - AP)

"Less-than-ideal clinical trial results and growing backlash against children's vaccinations writ large have complicated what was already a delicate decision-making process," writes Caitlin Owens for Axios.

"Moving quickly to authorize the shots for young children carries risks for regulators because dosing recommendations could still change, undermining vaccine confidence. But moving with extra caution further delays long-awaited protection against the virus for this youngest age group," according to Axios.

The high-stakes push to get COVID vaccines to young children (Caitlin Owens - Axios)

"The Food and Drug Administration is expected to convene a public meeting of a panel of outside vaccine advisers within weeks to consider Moderna’s request," reports The Wall Street Journal. "An FDA official said at a recent congressional hearing the agency would move quickly once it had a completed application, and would release a schedule for advisory panel meetings within the next week."

Moderna Asks FDA to Clear Its Covid-19 Vaccine for Young Children (Peter Loftus - The Wall Street Journal)