BALTIMORE — The University of Maryland School of Medicine, which has been at the forefront of COVID-19 vaccine research for adults, has just started its very first COVID-19 vaccine study for children.
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This clinical trial, called KidCOVE, will look at the use of the Moderna mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 6 months to 11 years old.
Dr. James Campbell, Professor of Pediatrics, is the principal investigator at the UMSOM study site. He is assessing the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in the pediatric population.
“I think that sometimes people lose sight when we’re focusing on the effect on adults is just how much it affects kids,” said Dr. Campbell. "In this study we want to make sure we have boys and girls, that we have the right ages and the right races and ethnicities. We're doing this across the country so that when we we have the results we’ll know that the vaccine is safe and effective, hopefully for all children."
WMAR-2 News spoke to one of the father who's 9-year-old son is enrolled in the study.
"He’s doing surprisingly well," said Dr. Charles Mugera. "No pain, no fever. He’s actually had no side effects."
Mugera's son, Christian is slated for his second shot next month. Over the next year his health will be monitored by an electronic diary and multiple visits with health care professionals.
The trial is being conducted in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
UMSOM is one of multiple sites in the U.S. and Canada that will enroll approximately 6,750 children in two phases. Participants will receive two doses 28 days apart. The UMSOM site is expected to enroll 120 children.
