Editor’s note: For the latest news on COVID-19, visit http://bit.ly/AAPNewsCOVID19.
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12 years are now 100% returnable.
The company’s new policy applies to doses privately purchased on or after Jan. 9 and will remain in place for the rest of the season. It is part of an effort to improve vaccination rates as infections and hospitalizations are rising.
“We understand the challenges faced by providers in predicting the exact number of doses needed,” Moderna said in an email to customers. “By allowing for increased returnability of unused pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, we aim to eliminate the risk of unused excess supply for providers and encourage them to keep a healthy stock on-hand without the worry of excess inventory.”
Moderna’s pediatric vaccines for children under 12 years come in single-dose vials. The proper dose is 0.25mL. The vials contain more than that amount, and the excess should be discarded.
The AAP and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated. However, just 8% of children and 19% of adults have received the updated 2023-’24 vaccine, according to the CDC.
The AAP has been advocating for policies to help pediatricians administer more vaccines. Pfizer implemented a 100% return policy in October. The CDC also announced in October it would implement flexibilities in the Vaccines for Children program this season for COVID-19 vaccines. They include not being required to keep a private stock until March 31, 2024, if privately insured patients will not be vaccinated and allowing certain types of providers like temporary vaccination clinics and pharmacies to offer a limited formulary of vaccines such as just COVID and influenza vaccines. It also recommends jurisdictions allow limited bidirectional borrowing of VFC and private stock with repayment within 30 days.
COVID hospitalizations rose 20.4% and deaths rose 12.5% during the week ending Dec. 30, 2023, compared to the previous week, according to CDC data. Wastewater testing also has found increasing viral activity.
The current vaccines, tests and treatments work against JN.1, which has become the most widely circulating COVID variant, according to the CDC. There is no evidence it causes more severe disease than other circulating variants.
Resources
- Information from the AAP on COVID-19 vaccines, including a dosing guide and information on payment
- CDC interim clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccines
- COVID-19 vaccine checklist for children from HealthyChildren.org
