MORGANTOWN — Gov. Jim Justice and his team celebrated the news that Moderna on Thursday asked the FDA to OK use of its vaccine for children ages 6 and under.
Justice noted that this is the only age group not yet eligible to be vaccinated (apart from a slight overlap with the Pfizer vaccine, which is authorized for 5 and up). “Hopefully it is here,” he said.
News reports indicate Moderna is still working to complete its filing, and an FDA answer could be weeks away. The FDA plans to put out a tentative timeline next week.
During the press Q&A it was noted that only 19.02% of those ages 5-11 have been vaccinated and COVID-19 Czar Clay Marsh answered a question about how many young kids might take the Moderna shot.
It’s hard to predict, he said. But for many parents, “They are waiting with bated breath.”
He said that Multi Infammatory Syndome in children — MIS-C — and long COVID are concerns for kids. Even when kids are relatively unaffected, they can transmit COVID to the immunocompromised and elderly.
“I hope the uptake continues to be better than what we have seen thus far in younger people,” he said.
Marsh also commented on the renewed climb in cases and hospitalizations.
Case numbers bottomed out at 263 on April 4 but are now up to 799. Hospitalizations are up slightly, from 77 on April 20 to 94 on Thursday.
“I think the news is overall still good,” he said.
But BA.2 omicron cases are growing in West Virginia. Public Health Commissioner Ayne Amjad put the number at 80, with more to come.
Marsh said South Africa, where omicron originated, is seeing problems — now with newer variants, BA.4 and BA.5, which presumably have better ability to evade the immune system.
“It just tells us we need to continue to be very vigilant and keep our eyes on our mission,” he said.
Marsh said 921,000 of 990,000 people who’ve died of COVID in the U.S are over 50, so it’s important to get vaccinated and keep current with the boosters. Use the vaccine calculator at vaccinate.wv.gov to known when you’re due.
Justice also commented on the uptick in cases, with six counties now yellow. “We really, really, really liked it when it was all green.”
TWEET David Beard @dbeardtdp
EMAIL dbeard@dominionpost.com
