Federal health officials are expected today * to approve

a

program granting long-deferred access to

the

drug AZT for children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome . Announcement of

the

approval is expected * to be made by Louis Sullivan , secretary of Health and Human Services .

The

clearance by

the

Food and Drug Administration comes after two years of restricted access for

the

youngest victims of AIDS to

the

only antiviral drug yet cleared * to treat

the

fatal disease .

The

drug will be given treatment investigational new drug status ,

a

label accorded to drugs believed effective but lacking formal approval .

The

move will make

the

drug available free of charge for

a

time to children with

the

disease and symptoms of advanced infection . Adults with AIDS have had access to AZT since FDA approved

the

drug 's usage for adults in March 1987 .