Moderna seeks COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorization for ages 12-17

June 10 (UPI) -- Moderna, Inc. announced Thursday it is approaching the Food and Drugs Administration for emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in children 12 to 17.

The drug company said in May its studies showed its coronavirus vaccines were 96% effective in that age group. In its first-quarter earnings report last month, Moderna said teenagers tested showed no serious side effects after receiving the shot.

"We are encouraged that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was highly effective at preventing COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection in adolescents," Moderna's CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement. "We remain committed to helping to end the COVID-19 pandemic."

Bancel said Moderna has already filed for authorization with Health Canada and the European Medicines Agency. Bancel said Moderna will continue to win approval from regulatory agencies around the world for the age group.

Moderna has received emergency authorization for use of its COVID-19 vaccine for adults in the United States, Canada, Israel, the European Union, Britain and numerous other countries. The World Health Organization has Moderna's drug name on its emergency use listing.