The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday, April 29, that it plans to convene its vaccine advisory committee over several days in June to discuss authorization of the COVID-19 vaccines for the nation's youngest kids.
The agency has set aside the dates of June 8, June 21, and June 22 for the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee to review Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna's vaccines for young children, the FDA said in a statement.
NBC News reported that the meeting dates set by the FDA are tentative, meaning they are still subject to change. Once the federal agency has finalized the dates of the June meetings, it intends to make additional materials available to the public.
Parents eagerly awaiting news on COVID jabs for young kids
The tentative dates released by the FDA are still important, though, as they can help gauge when the agency could make a final decision on the COVID vaccines for children. The FDA typically waits for a recommendation from its vaccine advisory committee before deciding on a particular jab and usually follows that recommendation.
Parents have been keenly awaiting news on COVID vaccines for young children. Kids under the age of 5 are the only group in the United States unable to get COVID vaccines. Moderna asked the FDA on Thursday, April 28, to authorize a lower dose of its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages six months to 5 years.
Dr. Paul Burton, Moderna's chief medical officer, told VOA that there is an important unmet medical need here with these youngest children and that two shots for kids will safely protect them. Burton added that he thinks it is likely that children will need additional doses over time.
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FDA urged to review COVID vaccine of Moderna ASAP due to omicron surge
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement shortly after, urging the FDA to review the COVID vaccine of Moderna as soon as possible, noting that coronavirus cases in children have started to rise again in the United States after a decline following the omicron variant surge.
Pfizer has not yet submitted an application to the FDA on its three-dose vaccine for children under 5, but the pharmaceutical giant is expected to do so in the coming weeks. The FDA also announced on Friday that it plans to convene its advisers on June 7 to discuss the application of Novavax for its COVID vaccine for adults.
Novavax's COVID vaccine, which uses proteins to kick-start the body's immune system, is already available for use in at least 170 nations, according to Reuters. If cleared for emergency use in the United States, it would provide an alternative to the popular mRNA-based shots from Moderna and Pfizer. The FDA is also planning a June 28 meeting to discuss what virus strain or strains should be included in COVID booster shots for this coming fall.
