“We are pleased to announce the submission of this variation to the EMA… This marks our first submission for the use of our vaccine in this age group,” Stephane Bancel, Moderna’s chief executive, said in a statement.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is currently approved for people aged 12 and above in Europe.
WHO warns of shortage of over one billion COVID-19 vaccine syringes
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of a possible shortfall of up to two billion syringes in 2022.
The United Nations agency said this will hamper vaccine efforts globally if production does not improve.
The COVID-19 vaccine campaigns worldwide resulting in the use of billions of syringes is said to have affected global supplies.
Lisa Hedman, WHO senior adviser on access to medicines and health products, said as the COVID vaccine supplies keep increasing, the production of syringes should increase as well.
“We are raising the real concern that we could have a shortage of immunisation syringes, which would, in turn, lead to serious problems, such as slowing down immunisation efforts,” she said.
“Depending on how the vaccine uptake goes, it could be a deficit of anywhere from one billion to two billion.”
US government to buy $1 billion Merck COVID-19 pill
The US has announced plans to buy $1 billion worth of the COVID-19 molnupiravir pill developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, according to the company.
The government earlier agreed to buy 1.7 million pills and is now planning to buy 1.4 million more.
Data showed when administered in early illness, the drug could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalised for those at risk of developing severe COVID-19.
“Molnupiravir, if authorised, will be among the vaccines and medicines available to fight COVID-19 as part of our collective efforts to bring this pandemic to an end,” Frank Clyburn, president of Merck’s human health business, said.
Nigeria records 64 infections