(WENY) - Moderna started testing out its COVID-19 vaccine on the youth. Moderna announced they are testing those ages 6 months to 12 years old. Dr. Michael Scalzone, Chief Quality Officer at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital says less than 10% of cases have been in people under the age of 17. Only a fraction of those young people have fallen seriously ill or died.

Scalzone says Moderna is looking to test 4,000 to 5,000 youth people. He goes onto say that although the youth is not as greatly affected by the virus, it is still important to vaccinate them to increase herd immunity and reduce the transmission rate. He also believes ramping up vaccines among children can help get more students back in the classroom.