Johnson & Johnson has begun testing its vaccine in adolescents between 12 and 17 years old

• Johnson & Johnson is expanding a clinical trial for its COVID-19 vaccine to include minors.
• The next phase of the trials will include minors aged 12 years old to 17 years old.
• Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have already started coronavirus vaccine trials with minors.

Johnson & Johnson has announced it is expanding a clinical trial for its COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents aged 12 years old to 17 years old.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on adolescents, not just with the complications of the disease, but with their education, mental health, and wellbeing," said Paul Stoffels, vice chairman of the executive committee and chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson, in a statement Friday. "It is vital that we develop vaccines for everyone, everywhere, to help combat the spread of the virus with the goal to return to everyday life."

The expansion of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine trial is Phase 2a of the company's clinical trial.

The trial was previously included healthy adults aged 18 to 55, as well as 65 years old and older.

The vaccine will now be tested in teenagers aged 16 and 17 first, and then expand to minors as young as 12.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have already started trials with minors.

Companies leading the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine trials said earlier this week that their vaccine was highly effective in preventing COVID-19 infection in a late-stage trial for kids ages 12 to 15.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.