Health Canada announced Friday that it is authorizing the use of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine against COVID-19 in children aged six months to four years.
This is the second vaccine to be authorized for this age group in Canada after that of Moderna, available since July.
In a press release, Health Canada explained that it had made this decision “after a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence” and that “the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the possible risks for this age group”.
“Health Canada has made the license subject to conditions that require Pfizer-BioNTech to continue to provide information on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in children in this age group. This will provide the ministry with more data from ongoing studies and actual use of the vaccine to determine if it remains a safe and effective way to protect children from COVID-19,” the federal agency added. in his press release.
Three smaller doses
Three doses of 3 micrograms (µg) each, with intervals of three weeks between the first and second and eight weeks between the second and third, will be given to children.
This represents a different series of doses than that given to children aged 5 to 11, which is instead two doses of 10 mcg each.
“We know that many Canadian parents are committed to providing additional protection to their children under the age of five,” said Fabien Paquette, the leader of Pfizer Canada’s mRNA and antiviral vaccines portfolio, in a written statement.
“With this clearance from Health Canada, we have taken another important step in our ongoing efforts to help protect families and other community members from COVID-19. »
Health Canada had received Pfizer-BioNTech’s request to extend this vaccine to this age group on June 23.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is expected to publish the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization regarding the administration of this vaccine shortly.
In Quebec, Moderna’s vaccine has been available for children six months to four years old since July 25.