LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center conducts its first COVID vaccination trial. They are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine in children. Site Principal Investigator Dr. Daniel Hsia said participants can expect a minimum of two blood draws.
“Along with getting the vaccine or a placebo, seventy-five percent of all of the kids who are going to participate will get the actual vaccine,” said Hsia.
Hsia said they’ve already enrolled enough children ages six to eleven and by the end of the month, they’ll register ages two to five, and next month children ages six months to less than two years. The trial will last one year, and they will monitor antibody responses to the vaccine.
“We want to see what the antibodies from half a dose of the Moderna vaccine are in this particular age group and not only that it’s effective, that it’s safe and not giving too many side effects,” said Hsia.
Hsia said so far side effects among those ages six to eleven in the Moderna trial are similar to those observed in adults.
Since August 19th children ages five to seventeen have had the majority of COVID cases in the state, followed by 18 to 29-year-olds. Hsia said with school back in session and the highly transmissible Delta variant, the vaccine is needed in younger children.
“So that they don’t spread it to other people who may be even more vulnerable to severe illness. It’s really important to have our kids vaccinated,” said Hsia.
For more information, you can contact Penning Biomedical Research at 225-763-3000
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