European Regulator Recommends Moderna Vaccine Shots For 12- to 17-Year-Olds

The European Union’s drug regulator has recommended Moderna COVID-19 vaccine shots for children between the ages of 12 and 17.

According to the British news agency Reuters, the aim is to pave the way for the use of a second vaccine for teenagers in the European bloc.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Friday that the use of the  Spikevax in adolescents would be similar to that used in people over the age of 18 and the vaccine produces the same antibodies as those seen in people between the ages of 18 and 25.

Vaccination of children is considered important to protect large populations against the coronavirus and the highly contagious Delta variant.

Moderna said in May that the vaccine was safe and effective in adolescents.

The EMA’s safety committee says the side effects after being vaccinated in adolescents are similar to those seen in older people.

Citizens Traveling Abroad To Get Moderna Vaccine Jab: Asad Umar

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said that Pakistani citizens who want to travel abroad will get the Moderna vaccine jab.

The federal Minister, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) took to Twitter and wrote, “received 2.5 million doses of Moderna sent by the US govt. This will particularly those who have to travel for work or study to countries which are only accepting certain vaccines.”

Note that, Pakistan received 2.5mn doses of COVID vaccine Moderna under COVAX, donated by the United States (US).

A special consignment of COVID-19 Moderna vaccine doses from the US has arrived at Islamabad International Airport on July 2.

“These vaccines will save lives and help Pakistan emerge from this crisis, which has devastated so many families and communities in both our countries. A vaccinated public will also help bring back the economic and social interactions we all welcome,” said CDA Aggeler.

In addition to today’s vaccine donation, the US has delivered nearly $50 million in COVID assistance through a partnership with the government of Pakistan. Since the start of the pandemic, we have worked together to improve lab testing, disease monitoring, and patient care.

Note that Pakistan has so far received 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the COVAX facility and also made an agreement to procure 13 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer.

Earlier, more than 600 diplomats from 57 countries have been vaccinated at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

An agreement has been signed between Pfizer Pakistan and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to supply 13 million Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT 162B2) vaccines.