Moderna’s two-dose Covid-19 vaccine for kids ages 6 through 17 received the endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration’s committee of independent immunization experts on Tuesday, a key step on the path to distributing it to kids.

The committee unanimously voted to recommend the shots for use in kindergarteners through high schoolers after an all-day public meeting that weighed how safe and effective the shots are.

With vaccine immunity waning, and concerns over a fall surge growing, officials from Moderna announced on Wednesday that data from its study on Omicron-containing bivalent booster, revealed that it offers superior antibody response against omicron – one month after injection - compared to the company's current vaccine.

Moderna Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Burton told ABC News that he believes the company's "highly effective" updated COVID-19 bivalent vaccine could be a "turning point" in the nation's fight against the pandemic.

Moderna is seeking emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for its Covid-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 5 years of age, the company said Thursday.

"We believe mRNA-1273 will be able to safely protect these children against SARS-CoV-2, which is so important in our continued fight against COVID-19, and will be especially welcomed by parents and caregivers," Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said in a news release.

Moderna on Thursday submitted a request to the FDA for emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months to under 6 years of age.

Why it matters: Young children have been largely unprotected throughout the pandemic. The FDA's approval could ultimately permit them to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The big picture: Moderna said last month its COVID-19 vaccine for children — which consists of two 25-microgram doses — generated a strong immune response in children ages 6 months to 5 years.

Moderna asked Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulators on Thursday to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children under 6 years of age. 

The biotech company said the shot was about 51% effective against the virus for kids under 2 years old and about 37% effective in kids ages 2 to 5.

It added that similar requests are underway with international regulatory authorities, noting that the requests are based on a 25-microgram two-dose primary series of the vaccine. 

Moderna hopes to offer updated COVID-19 boosters in the fall that combine its original vaccine with protection against the omicron variant. On Tuesday, it reported a preliminary hint that such an approach might work.

Today’s COVID-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of the coronavirus. But the virus continues to mutate, with the super-contagious omicron variant — and its siblings — the latest threat.

President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass billions of dollars in additional funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, as he received a second booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine a day after federal regulators approved a fourth shot for those aged 50 and older.

President Joe Biden gave a speech Wednesday about the fight against Covid-19 in the U.S.

The president’s remarks come a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a fourth Covid vaccine shot of Pfizer or Moderna for people ages 50 or older. The CDC also recommended that certain younger people with compromised immune systems should receive a fifth of dose.

Biden received his fourth dose after his speech.

President Biden received his fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday and announced the launch of informational website COVID.gov — as he urges Congress to pass billions of dollars in fresh pandemic funds.

A White House doctor administered Biden’s shot after the president gives remarks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at 1:30 p.m.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a second vaccine “booster” shot for people age 50 and up, but warned that there may not be enough for the general public if the age threshold is lowered.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized a second booster dose for people age 50 and older of the two most commonly used COVID-19 vaccines, citing data showing waning immunity and the risks posed by Omicron variants of the virus.

Reporting by Michael Erman in New Jersey and Manojna Maddipatla in Bangaluru, Additional reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot