Children aged 5 to 11 now have access to bivalent booster for COVID-19 | 24CA News
Health Canada accredited a COVID-19 vaccine booster for youngsters on Friday that targets more moderen variants of the coronavirus, together with the unique pressure.
The Pfizer-BioNTech “bivalent” shot protects towards probably the most prevalent subvariants of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5, and is the primary accredited to be used in youngsters ages 5 to 11.
In a press launch, Health Canada stated that after thorough evaluation it has discovered the vaccine is secure and efficient and that its advantages outweigh any potential dangers when used as a booster dose.
The child-sized dose is a few third of the dose that’s accredited for individuals over the age of 12.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization strongly recommends youngsters with weakened immune programs or underlying medical situations be provided a dose of the brand new vaccine at the very least six months after they obtain their first two COVID-19 photographs.
The advice for different youngsters in that age group is extra discretionary, and NACI suggests the bivalent booster “may be” provided.
For now, children aged 5 to 11 are solely really useful to get one COVID-19 booster shot, although NACI says an additional booster might be thought of on the discretion of household docs for youngsters who’re at greater danger.
“At this time, it is not assumed that every child will need a COVID-19 booster dose but they are particularly important for children five years of age and older with underlying conditions that place them at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19,” Dr. Shelley Deeks, chair of NACI, stated a press release.
She stated the brand new vaccine is most well-liked as a booster for teenagers as a result of it’s anticipated to carry out at the very least in addition to the unique booster and will have additional advantages towards newer variants.
NACI now additionally recommends that COVID-19 vaccine boosters might be given to youngsters similtaneously different routine vaccines just like the flu shot with no ready interval in between. Deeks stated in her assertion that she hopes the brand new advice will assist youngsters make amends for photographs they could have missed throughout the pandemic.
Canada’s chief public well being officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, stated in a press release that the majority youngsters who catch COVID-19 expertise solely delicate sickness, and the danger of being hospitalized is decrease for vaccinated youngsters than those that are unvaccinated.
The Omicron wave of the pandemic has seen way more youngsters contaminated with COVID-19 than earlier waves, given the excessive stage of an infection total, she stated.
No surprising security issues had been flagged with the brand new vaccine within the 5 to 11 age group.
Pfizer-BioNTech should proceed to offer information from ongoing research and real-world use of the vaccine to Health Canada to verify the advantages proceed to outweigh any dangers, and to alert the drug regulator to any new security issues.
Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada say they may preserve an in depth eye on the security of the vaccine in Canada and internationally.
