CHILDREN ENROLLED IN VACCINE TRIAL

As the the search for a COVID-19 vaccine continues, Cincinnati Children's Hospital has expanded its Pfizer clinical trial to include 12-year-olds to 15-year-olds, KCRA 3 News reported.

Last week, they started enrolling 16-year-old to 17-year-old participants.

Doctors enrolled and dosed seven children in the younger group for the first time..

"We really think a vaccine is so critical to be able to get us through this pandemic and back to normal," Dr. Robert Frenck said.

Finding a viable COVID-19 vaccine is a mission expanding by the day at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Frenck said for the first time, seven children between the ages of 12 and 15 enrolled in the Pfizer vaccine trial and were given a first dose.

Abhinav, a 12-year-old in seventh grade, volunteered to take part.

So did his father, hospital officials told sister station WLWT.

"I think it's important for two reasons. One, is the direct effect of protecting the adolescent themselves, but then, the other is the indirect effect just because if the adolescent isn't infected, then he or she won't spread it to anybody else," Frenck said.

Katelyn Evans, 16, a high school junior, was the first in the 16-year-old to 17-year-old group.

Frenck said she is doing well so far.