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COVID-19 vaccine trial for children underway in Lake Nona; here’s how to sign up

ORLANDO, Fla. — A COVID-19 vaccine trial for children is now underway in Lake Nona.

It’s the only trial of its kind happening in Florida.

On Thursday, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine started going into the arms of children at the Nona Pediatric Center in Orlando.

READ: Central Florida pediatrician begins Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trials for children

The pediatrician and researcher in charge said she hope this will mean more children can get vaccinated sooner, but getting a spot is not easy.

“The volume of people on a waitlist right now is a lot,” she said.

READ: 2 women dressed as ‘grannies’ denied second COVID-19 vaccine at Orange County Convention Center

The trials are for children ages 12 to 17. More than 400 children are already signed up and more can still register.

Callie Cameron managed to get a spot for her three kids.

Her 13-year-old has severe asthma and other health issues so she says this trial could not have come at a better time.

READ: Getting the COVID-19 vaccine at the Orange County Convention Center? Here’s what to expect

“Our doctor, their pediatrician is doing the trial,” Cameron said. “She sent us all an email and I was super excited whenever I saw it.”

The goal of the trial is to see what side effects children experience and to see if the efficacy rate is still up to 95% in children.

Some children will get the real vaccine and others will receive a placebo.

READ: COVID-19 pandemic leads to drop in life expectancy in the U.S.

To register for the trial, click here.

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Karen Parks

Karen Parks, WFTV.com

Karen Parks is a reporter at WFTV.

Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.