Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11 approved by Health Canada
Health Canada has approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11, the department announced Friday.
The announcement means that elementary school children will be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Previously, only kids aged 12 and up were eligible.
The vaccine will require two doses of 10 micrograms for kids aged five to 11 — one-third of the dose for adults. The dosing scheme approved by Health Canada is to give those two doses 21 days apart.
Pfizer had submitted its trial data to Health Canada on Oct. 1 for evaluation, and the full submission for approval Oct. 18.
Pfizer’s clinical trial data showed that the vaccine had 91 per cent efficacy against COVID-19 in this age group.
“After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the Department has determined that the benefits of this vaccine for children between 5 and 11 years of age outweigh the risks,” Health Canada wrote in a press release.
“Health Canada has placed terms and conditions requiring Pfizer-BioNTech to continue providing information to Health Canada on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in this younger age group. This will provide the Department with more data from ongoing studies and real-world use to ensure that the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh any risks, as well as to detect any potential new safety signals in any age group.”
Provinces have been preparing for the announcement for weeks, with many drawing up plans for how they would distribute the vaccines. In Ontario, children will likely be vaccinated at school, although it’s unclear whether it would happen during school hours.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Oct. 21 that the Canadian government had a deal with Pfizer to procure 2.9 million pediatric doses of the vaccine shortly after its approval by Health Canada.
However, Pfizer told Global News on Thursday that it had not yet begun shipping pediatric doses of the vaccine — marked with an orange cap to distinguish it from the adult dose — since it had not yet been approved.
It’s unclear how many parents will jump at the opportunity to vaccinate their young children, though. A recent survey found only half of parents intended to “immediately” vaccinate their kids when a vaccine became available.
Dr. Anna Wolak, a mother from Vancouver spoke to Global News ahead of the announcement, knowing that it was anticipated soon. “I’m ecstatic, I’m thrilled and so relieved, because finally I can protect my little ones a bit more than what we are already offering them now,” she said.
Some still have concerns though.
“If it’s safe, it’s a good idea,” said Gordon Riley, an Edmonton grandfather who is nervous about his grandson being vaccinated. “I have nothing against it, but they’ve tested it so fast. You have to wonder if it’s really as safe as they say.”
Around 78 per cent of the total Canadian population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Adding children would significantly increase the proportion eligible to receive the shot and potentially push that number higher.
The U.S. approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children on Nov. 2 and began vaccinating children under 12 shortly after.
Health Canada is also currently reviewing an application from Moderna for approval of a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 to 11.
— with files from Global News’ Jamie Mauracher and Reuters
by Global News
