Report: Moderna to test COVID-19 vaccine on kids 5-11

(CNBC/WHEC) — Moderna plans to test its COVID-19 vaccine in younger children.

The drugmaker told CNBC Monday it will seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to expand its clinical trial, which began in late March, for kids ages 5 to 11 as early as this winter.

Federal regulators have urged both Moderna and Pfizer to include 3,000 children in the younger age group.

Expanding the trials is a precautionary measure designed to detect rare side effects of the vaccine, including heart inflammation problems, myocarditis or pericarditis, reported in vaccinated people younger than 30.

Last month, the FDA added a warning label to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines listing a risk of heart inflammation as a potential rate side effect.

Back in June, health officials said there had been 12.6 heart inflammation cases per million doses for both vaccines combined.

Currently, only Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA for children ages 12 and older.