Health Canada approved the Pfizer booster for children ages 5-11

By Spencer Van Dyck

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Ottawa (CTV Network) — Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, announced that Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use as a booster for children ages 5-11. Tam Health Canada has approved a 10 microgram booster dose for children and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has issued guidelines regarding its use. This is the first booster approved for children ages 5-11, with Moderna only having two doses approved for that age group. NACI says that children who have low health or are immunocompromised and therefore at risk for a worse outcome from the virus should receive a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech at least six months after the second vaccine. “This booster dose provides a good option to restore protection for this age group, especially those at risk of serious disease,” Tam said. Other children in the age group of 5-11 may be given a booster dose in the six months after the second vaccination, Tam said, adding that the risk of serious side effects for them is “generally rare”. “I like to remind parents that serious health problems in this age group should be rare,” she said. “So I think giving people a choice and giving parents and children information about the effectiveness of the vaccine and the importance of the booster can help them make that choice.” Immunization rates among children ages 5-11 are the lowest of any child group — with 42 percent completing two doses of their primary series — more than 99 percent for the 80-plus age group, and at least 83 percent for all age groups 12 and older. The announcement came as Tam and Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njo gave an update on the Covid-19 and monkeypox cases in Canada. Tham said while many states appear to have passed the most recent peak in Covid-19 cases, there are some exceptions where weekly case counts continue to decline. Keeping vaccinations up-to-date is “a top priority” to prepare for future waves in the fall, as students return to school, people return to work after summer vacation, and Canadians generally begin to return home, she said.

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Tom Yun