EU Commission approves corona vaccine for babies and against variants


On Wednesday, the EMA recommended approving two corona vaccines from the manufacturers Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna for babies from the age of six months
Source: Robert Michael/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
According to the EU medicines authority, studies had shown that even babies and young children would be protected from infection at a very low dose. Whether the vaccination is actually offered for this age group is now a decision of the respective EU states.
DThe EU Commission has approved the first corona vaccines for babies and a preparation adapted to omicron variants. The preparations from the manufacturers Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna may in future be administered to babies from the age of six months, as the commission decided on Thursday.
In doing so, she followed a recommendation from the EU medicines agency EMA. Both vaccines are already approved for adults and children from the age of five and six respectively. The doses for babies and young children are significantly lower.
Whether babies and toddlers will actually be offered a corona vaccination in the future is now a decision of the respective EU countries. According to the EMA experts, studies had shown that even babies and young children were protected from infection at a very low dose.
EU Commission Approves Moderna’s Omicron Vaccine
At the same time, the EU Commission left one to two on Thursday Omicron variants adapted Moderna vaccine. According to the EMA, the preparation is effective against the original coronavirus and the two subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. The EMA experts recommend the adapted vaccine as a protection booster for people aged 12 and over.
It is the second adapted Spikevax vaccine to be approved. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides wrote on Twitter: “As the number of cases rises again in Europe, it is important that everyone increases their protection with vaccination and boosters this winter.”
“Aha! Ten minutes of everyday knowledge” is WELT’s knowledge podcast. Every Tuesday and Thursday we answer everyday questions from the field of science. Subscribe to the podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, deezer, Amazon Music or directly via RSS feed.