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Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trials to take off in KC area

Ongoing enrollment in the metro for a youth COVID-19 vaccine trial could see a trial start date as early as the end of March. Children’s Mercy Kansas City has been accepting enrollments and said it will likely begin with adolescents, then younger age groups.

Moderna became the first U.S. drugmaker to vaccinate children this week, as it entered it’s Phase 2/3. Moderna will enroll approximately 6,750 children in the U.S. and Canada ages 6 months to less than 12 years old.

Children’s Mercy Kansas City is enrolling children into the vaccine trial. Even though a start date has not been set for the trial, it could start by the end of March or early April.

The pediatric vaccine trials for the COVID-19 vaccine are important because both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson can only vaccinate adults. Pfizer is approved for ages 16 and up.

Dr. Kevin Ault, OBGYN at the University of Kansas Health Systems and member of the federal advisory panel for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, CDC ACIP, says trials will likely test adolescents then go down in age groups.