FDA considers a Pfizer booster and a Moderna vaccine for children
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
We are beginning this hour with new developments on the effort to protect kids from COVID. Pfizer and BioNTech just asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize the first booster shot for children ages 5 to 11. And any day now, Moderna is expected to seek authorization for the first vaccine for children younger than 5. NPR health correspondent Rob Stein joins us this morning. Hi, Rob.
ROB STEIN, BYLINE: Good morning, Rachel.
MARTIN: Before we get to the vaccine news, let's start with some new data out from the CDC about how many people, including kids, have been infected with COVID. What's the latest?
STEIN: You know, Rachel, does it feel like almost everyone you know has gotten COVID-19 by now? Well, you know...
MARTIN: A lot, yeah.
STEIN: Yeah, there's a good reason for that. The CDC data says that the omicron variant spread so fast this winter that almost 60% of everyone in the U.S. has antibodies to the virus. And that number is even higher for children - almost 75% of kids ages 11 and younger. That means lots of people have at least some immunity at this point and helps explain why the U.S. hasn't experienced yet another big surge yet.
MARTIN: OK. So 75% of kids have antibodies.
MARTIN: That's what you said?
MARTIN: Does that mean these kids still need vaccinations or boosters?
STEIN: You know, the CDC says yes, absolutely. First of all, you know, one-quarter of kids still don't have any immunity. And the CDC says vaccination provides even stronger, perhaps broader, protection for those who have already gotten infected. So the - you know, the CDC is actually frustrated that most parents still haven't vaccinated or boosted their kids.
MARTIN: So we know kids ages 12 and older are already eligible for booster shots. Now Pfizer and BioNTech want the FDA to OK a booster for younger kids, too, right?
STEIN: Yeah, yeah. The companies say a third shot six months after the second shot can safely pump up antibodies for kids ages 5 to 11, especially antibodies that can fight off the omicron variant.
Now, Rachel, there's a bit of mixed opinion among independent experts about whether kids ages 5 to 11 need a booster yet. Some say, look, protection from two shots clearly weakens as the months go by, especially against omicron. And while kids don't tend to get as sick as adults, COVID can still pose a danger to kids. So we should do everything possible to protect them, especially now that no one's wearing masks and the numbers are creeping up again.
But others argue two shots are still keeping kids from getting seriously ill. And the evidence boosters are definitely needed just isn't there yet. So the FDA will have to decide who's right.
MARTIN: Meanwhile, really young kids still have not been able to get even their first shots.
MARTIN: Moderna is expected to ask the FDA to authorize a vaccine for children younger than 5 this week finally. I mean, is this going to happen?
STEIN: You know, Moderna says its low-dose pediatric vaccine looks safe and can boost antibodies to levels equivalent to the adult vaccine for kids as young as 6 months old. That said, the protection still doesn't look that great against omicron. So that's raised questions about whether three doses are really needed. That's what happened with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine, and the FDA is waiting to see if three shots of that vaccine work better.
So while everyone's hoping to get a vaccine for these kids by this month, it now looks like the FDA's probably not going to take this up until June. And that's obviously not good news to all those parents of very young kids who are frustrated and angry that it's already taken this long to get a vaccine for their kids.
MARTIN: NPR health correspondent Rob Stein, thank you.
STEIN: Sure thing, Rachel. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
"FDA inazingatia booster ya Pfizer na chanjo ya Moderna kwa watoto ""Rachel Martin, Mwalimu: Tunaanza saa hii na maendeleo mapya juu ya juhudi za kuwalinda watoto kutoka COVID-19." Pfizer na BioNTech wamewasili kwa idara ya chakula na dawa ya Marekani (FDA) kuidhinisha chanjo ya kwanza ya booster kwa watoto wenye umri wa miaka 5 hadi 11. Moderna inatarajiwa kutafuta idhini ya chanjo ya kwanza kwa watoto chini ya miaka mitano. Mjumbe wa NPR Rob Stein anaendelea na mazungumzo yake. Halo, Rob. Rob Steyn, byline: Asubuhi njema, Rachel. "Kabla ya kuingia kwenye habari za chanjo, hebu tuanze na data mpya kutoka kwa CDC kuhusu idadi ya watu, pamoja na watoto, ambao wameambukizwa COVID-19.""" Habari za karibuni ni zipi? "Rachel, unajua, ""Ninajua kila mtu ambaye ninajua amepata COVID-19.""" Kwa kweli, unajua... MARTIN: Mengi, ndiyo. STEIN: Ndiyo, kuna sababu nzuri ya hilo. Kulingana na CDC, omicron imeenea kwa kasi sana wakati wa baridi kali, na karibu asilimia 60 ya watu nchini Marekani wana antibodies dhidi ya virusi hivyo. Idadi hiyo ni kubwa zaidi kwa watoto, karibu asilimia 75 ya watoto wenye umri wa miaka 11 na chini. Hii inamaanisha kwamba watu wengi wana angalau kinga fulani kwa wakati huu na inasaidia kuelezea kwa nini Marekani haijawahi kupata ongezeko kubwa la virusi vya corona. Martin: Sawa. Kwa hivyo, asilimia 75 ya watoto wana antibodies. MARTIN: Je, hiyo ni nini alisema? Je, hii inamaanisha kwamba watoto hawa bado wanahitaji chanjo au booster? "Sema, ""C.D.C. inajua kwamba kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa kuwa na tatizo hili." Kwa mfano, asilimia moja ya watoto bado hawana kinga. CDC inasema chanjo hutoa ulinzi mkubwa zaidi kwa wale ambao tayari wameambukizwa. Kwa hivyo, CDC inashangaa kwamba wazazi wengi bado hawajawa chanjo watoto wao. Kwa hivyo, watoto wenye umri wa miaka 12 na zaidi tayari wanastahili chanjo ya booster. Pfizer na BioNTech pia zinataka FDA iidhinishe dawa ya booster kwa watoto wadogo. STEIN: Ndiyo, ndiyo. "Kampuni hiyo imesema chanjo ya tatu miezi sita baada ya chanjo ya pili inaweza ""kuinua kwa usalama"" kingamwili kwa watoto wenye umri wa miaka 5 hadi 11, hasa kingamwili zinazoweza kupambana na aina ya Omicron." Kwa mujibu wa ripoti ya utafiti wa wataalamu wa afya, kuna tofauti kubwa kati ya watoto wenye umri wa miaka 5 hadi 11 wanaohitaji dawa ya booster. "Wengine wanasema, ""Ulinzi kutoka kwa risasi mbili una dhaifu kwa wazi kadiri miezi inavyopita, haswa dhidi ya Omicron.""" Ingawa watoto hawawezi kuugua kama watu wazima, COVID-19 bado inaweza kuwa hatari kwa watoto. """Tunapaswa kufanya kila tuwezalo kuwalinda, hasa sasa ambapo hakuna mtu anayevaa kinyago na idadi inaongezeka tena." Lakini wengine wanasema chanjo mbili bado zinawazuia watoto wasigonjwa vibaya, na ushahidi wa booster unahitajika bado haupo. Kwa hiyo, FDA inapaswa kuamua ni nani aliye na haki. Kwa upande mwingine, watoto wadogo hawajaweza kupata chanjo ya kwanza. Moderna inatarajiwa kuomba FDA kuidhinisha chanjo kwa watoto chini ya miaka mitano wiki hii. Namaanisha, je, jambo hili litatukia? Moderna inasema chanjo yake ya watoto inaonekana salama na inaweza kuongeza antibodi kwa viwango sawa na chanjo ya watu wazima kwa watoto wa miezi sita. Hata hivyo, ulinzi bado haionekani kuwa mzuri dhidi ya omicron. "Hii ilisababisha maswali ya ""Je, dozi tatu zinahitajika?""" "Hiyo ndiyo iliyotokea na chanjo ya Pfizer-BioNTech ya watoto, na FDA inangoja kuona ikiwa risasi tatu za chanjo hiyo zinafanya kazi vizuri zaidi. """ """Wakati kila mtu anatarajia kupata chanjo kwa watoto hawa mwezi huu, sasa inaonekana kama FDA haitachukua hii hadi Juni." Hii si habari njema kwa wazazi wote wa watoto wadogo ambao wamefadhaika na kukasirika kwamba tayari imechukua muda mrefu kupata chanjo kwa watoto wao. Mjumbe wa NPR Rob Stein STEIN: Bila shaka jambo, Rachel. Transcription: NPR, Copyright: NPR