Pharmaceutical company Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine strongly protects children as young as 12

Moderna says its COVID-19 vaccine ‘strongly protects’ teens aged between 12 and 17.

The company studied the effects of their vaccine on more than 3,700 12- to 17-year-olds.

Preliminary findings showed the vaccine triggered the same immune response in kids and teens as it does in adults. This includes temporary side effects such as sore arms, headache, and fatigue.

Moderna also said the vaccine appeared 93 percent effective two weeks after the first dose in teens.

At least 316 children have died in the US alone, according to a tally by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The new data could speed up the global rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine

Earlier this month, the US and Canada authorized the Pfizer for children aged older than 12.

Moderna aims to be next in line, saying it will submit the new data to the US Food and Drug Administration early next month.

Both Pfizer and Moderna have also begun testing their vaccines in younger children and babies.

This comes after US Preisident Joe Biden said “America will never be fully safe” from COVID

The Biden administration announced that the country will share an additional 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines with the world by the end of June.

It follows the White House previously allocating 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The vaccines will be a combination of Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson