Q. “Will children aged 0 to 5 be vaccinated, and if not, why? “
Carl Corbeil
R. Mr. Corbeil,
Now that immunization for children aged 5 to 11 has just started, that’s the next question on the radar.
The short answer: Children under 5 may be vaccinated, but it will be at least until early next year.
The first step is to find out if the vaccines are safe and effective in toddlers. Studies are underway on this subject.
The most advanced group is Pfizer / BioNTech, the one that has successfully tested a dose of its vaccine three times lower than that given to adults in children 5-11 years old.
This vaccine is currently being tested in two other groups of children: 2 to 5 year olds and toddlers 6 months to 2 years old.
In an interview with CBC this week, the chief administrator of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Theresa Tam, said she hoped to see the first results on children aged 2 to 5 by the end of this year. .
“That means for the younger age group, the most likely optimistic timeline is the start of next year,” she says.
Once the data is published, Health Canada will need to analyze it. The federal and provincial immunization committees will then make recommendations. Vaccines will only be given to children if scientists believe that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Toddlers are generally resistant to COVID-19, although the disease can lead to serious consequences in very rare cases.
“Children have strong immune systems and I expect them to develop a good response to the vaccine as well,” said Dr.D Tam.
The Pfizer / BioNTech group is not alone in the race. Moderna is carrying out a similar study called KidCOVE. This is however less advanced and is still recruiting participants. The study is divided into three groups: children aged 6 to 12, those aged 2 to 6, and those aged 6 months to 2 years.
Johnson & Johnson have previously reported plans to test their vaccine in young children, but the company has confirmed to us that at this time, the vaccine is only tested in 12-17 year olds.