As more data shows COVID-19 vaccines highly effective in teens, numbers could reverse a 'lag phase' on inoculations - USA TODAY

Encouraging data on the effectiveness and safety of vaccines for kids are a welcome sign for summer vaccinations, the 2021-22 school year and beyond.

Encouraging data on the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for kids is a welcome sign for summer vaccinations and the 2021-22 school year that will begin in little more than three months for some of the nation's districts.

Moderna reported Thursday that its vaccine is showing a 96% effectiveness rate in Phase 2/3 testing ofadolescents ages 12 to 17. Pfizer has reported its COVID-19 vaccine was 100% effective in a study of adolescents ages 12 to 15.

Pfizer asks FDA to OK its vaccine for kids ages 12-15.

Daily vaccinations have declined in recent weeks, a phenomenon Omenka described as normal, particularly in the days after the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine was paused because of concerns about blood clots.

"Also, vaccine uptake can stall, ironically, because of the uptake of the vaccine on a large scale," Omenka said.

That may delaying herd immunity or even prevent it, he said.

"This has positive implications, including demonstrating the safety of the vaccines and their effectiveness across a larger sample of the population."

"Predictably, expanding the vaccinated population would bolster our herd immunity efforts," he said

"I’m not sure that we will ever reach herd immunity," he said