CDC approval for kids’ COVID vaccine: Why’s it taking so long?

Pfizer previously pulled its emergency-use authorization request from the FDA for kids under age 5 due to what they called incomplete data.

Pfizer previously pulled its emergency-use authorization request from the FDA for kids under age 5 due to what they called incomplete data. Photo by Shutterstock.

Moderna announced today that it’s asking the FDA to authorize its COVID vaccine for children under 6 years old. The pharmaceutical company says its vaccine is about 40-50% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 during its trials. 

The CDC has also issued an alert in Alabama after a cluster of hepatitis cases in young children was reported. It’s unclear where the cases originated from. 

Credits

Guest:

  • Dr. Alice Kuo - professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA - @UCLAHealth

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Angie Perrin, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Brian Hardzinski, Bennett Purser, Marcelle Hutchins