The pharmacist holds a vial of the Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine on February 17, 2021 in West Haven, Connecticut, USA. (Reuters / Mike Seger)
Moderna Inc said Thursday that Canada has approved the COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged 6 to 11 years.
A vaccine branded Spikevax has recently been approved for use among children of the same age group in Australia and the European Union.
Last year, Moderna said the double-dose vaccine produced virus-neutralizing antibodies in children aged 6 to 11 years, with safety comparable to that seen in adolescent and adult clinical trials.
Vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology are approved in the United States for people over the age of 18. The company is awaiting a decision from US regulatory authorities regarding the use of vaccines in children aged 12 to 17 years.
Rival Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot is cleared in the United States for children up to 5 years old.
Canada approved the Moderna vaccine in adolescence in August.
By Amruta Khandekar
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