Health Canada expected to approve Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids on Friday
Posted November 18, 2021 5:28 am.
Last Updated November 18, 2021 3:57 pm.
Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 is expected to be announced on Friday.
The federal government has scheduled a media briefing with officials at 10 a.m. Friday to share news regarding authorization of the shot for children.
Officials will also give an update on recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
Pfizer-BioNTech submitted its youth vaccine data for review on Oct. 18.
The company recently released data from its own study, which found the vaccine is nearly 91 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic infections in kids aged five to 11.
Last month, Canada signed a deal with Pfizer to secure 2.9 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for kids, which would be shipped upon Health Canada’s approval.
“These deliveries will provide sufficient supply to provide a first dose to every eligible Canadian child,” Procurement Minister Anita Anand said at the time.
The Pfizer vaccine is sold under the name Comirnaty. The one for children uses the same mRNA technology as the one for adults but in a smaller dosage. The doses are about one-third the size given to adults and teens aged 12 and up.
Earlier this week, Health Canada received a submission from Moderna to approve its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for use among children aged six to 11.
The federal government is also set to announce the easing of some COVID-19 measures at the Canadian border on Friday afternoon.
They are expected to do away with the rule that requires travellers taking short trips to the U.S. to present a negative molecular COVID-19 test in order to get back into the country.
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With files from Lucas Casaletto, Hana Mae Nassar and Michael Talbot of CityNews
