Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for youths underneath 5 has been accepted by Well being Canada, making it the second vaccine possibility for youngsters on this age group.
“After an intensive and unbiased scientific evaluation of the proof, Well being Canada has decided that the advantages of this vaccine outweigh the potential dangers on this age group,” reads a information launch despatched Friday.
Well being Canada has accepted a three-dose main sequence of three micrograms every of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine for youngsters aged six months to four-years-old.
That differs from Moderna’s vaccine for this age group, a two-dose sequence and the next quantity of vaccine per dose which was accepted in July.
WATCH | Well being Canada approves Moderna vaccine for youths:
Well being Canada adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma says the company will proceed to obtain information from Moderna concerning its security and effectiveness following its approval to be used in youthful youngsters.
Federal well being officers say Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine ought to be given at an interval of three weeks between the primary and second doses, with eight weeks between the second and third dose.
There are about 1.7 million Canadians on this age group. In line with federal information, 47,363 youngsters underneath 5 have obtained at the least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Aug. 14.
Well being Canada says the jabs, which goal the unique pressure of COVID-19, stay efficient at stopping extreme sickness, hospitalization and loss of life.
The federal government just lately accepted a more moderen model of Moderna’s vaccine that targets the Omicron variant of COVID-19, however its use has not but been accepted for the youngest cohort.
