Health Canada authorizes Pfizer’s vaccine for children aged 6 months to 4 years

OTTAWA — 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”.

Three doses of three micrograms each, with an interval of three weeks between the first and second dose and eight weeks between the second and third dose, will be given to children.

This represents a different series of doses than that given to children aged 5 to 11, which is more like two doses of ten micrograms each.

Health Canada had received a request from Pfizer-BioNTech 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.