The FDA’s vaccine advisory panel met on Thursday to debate what will be required for a COVID vaccine to be authorized or approved for use in children under the age of 12.
The meeting lasted for seven hours and was focused on safety and how to best balance the benefits of a vaccine with any potential risks. Not just for an individual child, but also for our society as a whole.
Younger children are the least likely to experience severe complications from COVID. One advisor suggested only a full approval should be considered in younger children, instead of an Emergency Use Authorization.
Other advisors argued the risk to children does support the use of a vaccine, especially with COVID still raging around the globe. Panel members also stressed the risk for children could increase dramatically if schools drop precautions like masks and social distancing.
Advisors urged the FDA to to study the vaccine in larger groups of children. They said the clinical trials need to be large enough to assess the risks in children, especially those in the youngest age group.
Watch the video above for the full report.