Federal authorities are preparing to deploy tot-sized shots in the United States, so regulators will decide whether to approve Canada’s first COVID-19 vaccine for infants and preschoolers in the coming weeks. It says it should.
Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief of Public Health, said in a news conference this morning that Health Canada is still considering applying for a vaccine modeler to protect children aged 6 months to 5 years.
Today, US regulators have approved Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for the youngest children and are preparing to reduce doses next week.
Canada has not yet approved a vaccine for children under the age of five, and only Moderna shots have been submitted for regulatory review.
A Pfizer Canada spokeswoman said in an email that the company is proceeding with the submission but was unable to provide a timeline for when to submit it.
The modelna vaccine is given in two doses, one-fourth the dose of each adult, and to children under the age of six at approximately four-week intervals.
By Adina Bresge
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