The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for young children—but only for those with underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk of severe illness—prompting sharp criticism from President Donald Trump’s MAGA base.
The decision makes Moderna’s Spikevax the first pediatric COVID vaccine to receive full authorization in the United States, but the approval is notably limited in scope.
The announcement follows a broader shift in vaccine policy under Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Earlier this year, he ended federal recommendations for routine COVID-19 vaccination of healthy children and pregnant women, citing updated data and revised risk assessments, as previously reported by Resist the Mainstream.
Moderna confirmed Thursday that the FDA had approved a supplemental application for Spikevax, extending full licensure to children between six months and 11 years old with qualifying health conditions.
Spikevax has already been fully approved for individuals 12 and older since 2022.
The company also noted that an updated formulation will be available ahead of the 2025–26 respiratory virus season.
Current guidance calls for two doses for unvaccinated children aged six to 23 months and a single dose for older children or those who’ve already received a primary series.
The FDA’s decision follows the disbanding of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which had been evaluating vaccine recommendations for children.
Before it was dissolved, the committee had reportedly been preparing to pull back on vaccine guidance for older children while still recommending it for infants and toddlers.
Dr. Fiona Havers, a medical epidemiologist who previously worked on the CDC’s respiratory virus hospitalization network, voiced concern about the limited eligibility.
“We know that more than half of the children hospitalized for COVID are under age 2, and many don’t have any underlying condition,” she said in an interview with STAT News.
Havers resigned from the CDC following the agency’s policy changes.
She also pointed out that infants under six months—who are ineligible for the vaccine—have some of the highest COVID hospitalization rates among all age groups, trailing only adults over 75.
“Generally speaking, respiratory illnesses tend to hit infants harder than older children,” Havers noted.
Some health experts have warned that narrowing vaccine eligibility could create confusion or limit access for parents who still want to immunize their children.
With federal recommendations now withdrawn for the broader pediatric population, physicians may be more cautious about advising off-label use, especially without a strong government endorsement.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel supported the FDA’s decision.
“COVID-19 continues to pose a significant potential threat to children, especially those with underlying medical conditions,” he said in a statement to STAT. “Vaccination can be an important tool for protecting our youngest against severe disease and hospitalization.”
For now, the vaccine remains authorized only for children with specific health risks, leaving most healthy children ineligible for full vaccination.
Nevertheless, the FDA’s approval has drawn sharp criticism from some conservatives.
Conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman questioned the decision on X, asking, “Why push this when myocarditis risks are known, especially for young boys? This isn’t Making America Healthy Again.”
Blaze TV host Steve Deace expressed his disapproval by stating, “I didn’t vote for this.”
Epidemiologist Nicholas Hulscher added, “This is gravely worrisome. Our regulatory agencies are still completely compromised.”
Another user went further, calling the move “disgusting” and saying, “This is so disgusting that it makes me sick to my soul.”
As debates continue, many families are left weighing vaccine safety and the role of government in making health choices for children.
The post MAGA Furious as Trump Admin Backtracks, Approves Moderna COVID Vaccine for Kids appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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