Meet the Teen Vaccine Volunteers

Thirteen-year-old Esme Campbell can’t wait until the Covid-19 pandemic is over. Like many teens, she wants to hang out with her friends, hug her grandparents, and—most of all—have life go back to how it was before.

“I really miss being able to walk to school with my friends,” she says, “and spending time with them indoors.”

Thirteen-year-old Esme Campbell cannot wait until the Covid-19 pandemic is over. Like many teens, she wants to hang out with her friends. She wants to hug her grandparents. Most of all, she wants life to go back to how it was before.

“I really miss being able to walk to school with my friends,” Esme says, “and spending time with them indoors.”

Thanks in part to young people like Esme herself, a return to normalcy may be within reach. That’s because the seventh-grader from Massachusetts is one of thousands of kids who, with their parents’ permission, have volunteered to take part in a Covid-19 vaccine trial. The goal is to help researchers evaluate whether the shots are safe and effective for young people. 

Many medical experts say vaccinating children and teens will be key to ending the pandemic and reaching what’s known as herd immunity (see sidebar, below). Research shows that vaccinated people are far less likely to get sick from Covid-19 than people who haven’t been vaccinated. (Scientists are still studying how well the shots prevent people from spreading the virus that causes Covid-19 to others.)

A return to normalcy may be within reach, thanks in part to young people like Esme. The seventh-grader from Massachusetts is one of thousands of kids who, with their parents’ permission, have volunteered to take part in a Covid-19 vaccine trial. The goal is to help researchers evaluate whether the shots are safe and effective for young people.

Many medical experts say vaccinating children and teens will be key to ending the pandemic and reaching what is known as herd immunity. (See the sidebar, below.) Research shows that vaccinated people are far less likely to get sick from Covid-19 than people who have not been vaccinated. (Scientists are still studying how well the shots prevent people from spreading the virus that causes Covid-19 to others.)

But before vaccines can be administered to the public, researchers must conduct extensive tests known as clinical trials. In the United States, vaccines then need to be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, a federal government agency. So far, the three Covid-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S.—produced by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson—are mostly for adults. (Pfizer’s vaccine is currently authorized for people as young as 16.) 

By early April 2021, more than 108 million Americans had gotten at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s about 33 percent of the total U.S. population. (The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses given several weeks apart.)

Many health experts estimate that 70 to 90 percent of the population will need to be vaccinated or otherwise immune to Covid-19 for the nation to reach herd immunity. (People who have contracted Covid-19 may develop immunity to it, although it is unclear how long that immunity lasts.) Because kids and teens make up about 22 percent of the population, many of those experts say that for the country to achieve herd immunity, millions of young people will have to be vaccinated as well.

But before vaccines can be given to the public, researchers must run extensive tests known as clinical trials. In the United States, vaccines then need to be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration, a federal government agency. So far, three Covid-19 vaccines have been authorized for emergency use in the U.S. They were produced by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. They are mostly for adults. (Pfizer’s vaccine is currently authorized for people as young as 16.)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 108 million Americans had gotten at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by early April 2021. That is about 33 percent of the total U.S. population. (The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses given several weeks apart.)

Many health experts estimate that 70 to 90 percent of the U.S. population will need to be vaccinated or otherwise immune to Covid-19 for the nation to reach herd immunity. (People who contracted Covid-19 may develop immunity to it, although it is unclear how long that immunity lasts.) Many of those experts say that for the country to achieve herd immunity, millions of young people will have to be vaccinated as well. That is because kids and teens make up about 22 percent of the population.

That’s partly why Dr. Lee Savio Beers, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has urged the nation’s leaders to make vaccinating kids and teens a priority.

“Having a Covid-19 vaccine available for children is essential for this nation to control and end the pandemic,” she says. “We need to apply the same urgency to vaccinate children as we have for adults.”

Dr. Lee Savio Beers is the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). She has urged the nation’s leaders to make vaccinating kids and teens a priority.

“Having a Covid-19 vaccine available for children is essential for this nation to control and end the pandemic,” she says. “We need to apply the same urgency to vaccinate children as we have for adults.”

More than 3.4 million kids and teens in the U.S. have tested positive for Covid-19, and at least 284 have died, according to the AAP. In total, the CDC reports that about 30 million Americans have contracted Covid-19 and more than 554,000 have died.

For the most part, young people with the disease have experienced relatively mild symptoms and are far less likely than adults to become seriously ill. Still, some have developed severe complications. Research shows that young people can also spread the virus to their parents, grandparents, siblings, and other members of their community. 

That’s why many health experts say vaccinating young people is so important—and why late last year, pharmaceutical companies began asking parents if their kids would volunteer for the trials. Among other details, researchers must determine what doses young people need, how their bodies react to the vaccines, and what side effects they experience.

According to the AAP, more than 3.4 million kids and teens in the U.S. have tested positive for Covid-19, and at least 284 have died. The CDC reports that a total of about 30 million Americans have contracted Covid-19. More than 554,000 have died.

For the most part, young people with the disease have experienced relatively mild symptoms. They also are far less likely than adults to become seriously ill. Still, some have developed severe complications. Research shows that young people can also spread the virus to their parents, grandparents, siblings, and other members of their community.

That is why many health experts say vaccinating young people is so important. It is also why, late last year, pharmaceutical companies began asking parents if their kids would volunteer for the trials. Among other details, researchers must figure out what doses young people need, how their bodies react to the vaccines, and what side effects they experience.

When her mother first told Esme that kids and teens could help test the Covid-19 vaccines, she began to consider joining a study. A family friend had participated in last year’s vaccine trials for adults and told Esme what to expect. After much discussion with her parents—both of whom are doctors—the middle schooler decided to volunteer for Moderna’s trial. Her 15-year-old sister, Zoe, signed up as well. 

Zoe, a freshman in high school, says she thought that taking part in the trial would help her regain a sense of control that had been lost during the pandemic. “A lot of things feel out of our hands,” she explains, “so to be a part of that process of testing a vaccine was very exciting.”

Esme began to consider joining a study when her mother first told her that kids and teens could help test the Covid-19 vaccines. A family friend had taken part in last year’s vaccine trials for adults and told Esme what to expect. After much discussion with her parents, both of whom are doctors, the middle schooler decided to volunteer for Moderna’s trial. Her 15-year-old sister, Zoe, signed up as well.

Zoe is a freshman in high school. She says she thought that taking part in the trial would help her regain a sense of control that had been lost during the pandemic. “A lot of things feel out of our hands,” she explains, “so to be a part of that process of testing a vaccine was very exciting.”

The sisters received their first shots this past February at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. During their appointments, which lasted about three hours, doctors asked the girls about their medical histories and explained the purpose of the trial. 

Researchers also told them that not all trial participants would get the actual vaccine. Some would be given a placebo, an injection of a substance that contains no medication at all. Placebos are often used in clinical trials to help researchers compare groups of participants and determine whether vaccines are effective.

The girls got their second shots about four weeks later. After each injection, they had to use an app to answer questions about how they were feeling every day for a week.

Both of the sisters’ arms were sore, and Esme developed a rash around the injection site. But neither experienced some of the other short-term side effects of the vaccine that have been common in adults, such as chills or muscle aches, which may signal that the body is building protection against the virus. Researchers will continue to monitor all study participants, including Esme and Zoe, for more than a year.

For now, the girls don’t know whether they got the vaccine or a placebo, but they’re optimistic they got the real thing. “Then I’d be one of the first kids to get it,” says Esme.

The sisters received their first shots this past February at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. Their appointments lasted about three hours. During that time, doctors asked the girls about their medical histories and explained the purpose of the trial.

Researchers also told them that not all trial participants would get the actual vaccine. Some would be given a placebo. That is an injection of a substance that contains no medication at all. Placebos are often used in clinical trials to help researchers compare groups of participants and figure out whether vaccines are effective.

The girls got their second shots about four weeks later. After each shot, they had to use an app to answer questions about how they were feeling every day for a week.

Both of the sisters’ arms were sore. Esme developed a rash around the injection site. But neither experienced some of the other short-term side effects of the vaccine that have been common in adults, such as chills or muscle aches. Those effects may signal that the body is building protection against the virus. Researchers will continue to monitor all study participants, including Esme and Zoe, for more than a year.

For now, the girls do not know whether they got the vaccine or a placebo. But they are optimistic they got the real thing. “Then I’d be one of the first kids to get it,” says Esme.

Officials at Moderna expect to have test results from their trial of kids ages 12 to 17 by this summer. Other companies hope to follow a similar timeline. Doctors say it’s likely that vaccines will be authorized for use in that age group by this fall—potentially before the start of the 2021-2022 school year. 

At the same time, companies are currently working to test their vaccines on younger kids, those 6 months to 11 years old. Doctors say children in that age group may be able to get vaccinated in early 2022. 

Esme, for one, says she’s proud to be playing a role in the development of an eagerly awaited Covid-19 vaccine for kids and teens—and in helping to end the pandemic. 

“Having a vaccine has been something that we’ve all been looking forward to,” she says. “So it’s really cool to be able to contribute.”

Moderna officials expect to have test results from their trial of kids ages 12 to 17 by this summer. Other companies hope to follow a similar timeline. Doctors say it is likely that vaccines will be authorized for use in that age group by this fall—perhaps before the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

At the same time, companies are working to test their vaccines on younger kids, 6 months to 11 years old. Doctors say children in that age group may be able to get vaccinated in early 2022.

Esme, for one, says she is proud to be playing a role in the development of an eagerly awaited Covid-19 vaccine for kids and teens—and in helping to end the pandemic.

“Having a vaccine has been something that we’ve all been looking forward to,” she says. “So it’s really cool to be able to contribute.”