Moderna said that in the coming weeks it would ask regulators in the US and Europe to authorize two small-dose shots for young children

Biotech company Moderna has announced the first interim data from a clinical trial testing its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children under the age of six. The results show similar antibody responses after two doses to those seen in adults. Moderna plans to apply for US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency authorization very soon.

Moderna’s COVID vaccine is around 44 per cent effective for children aged 6 months to 2 years old, early clinical trial results show.