Health Canada approves 1st COVID-19 booster for kids 5-11

The first COVID-19 booster vaccine for children has been approved in Canada as kids across the country get ready to start another school year.

Health Canada on Friday said it had authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot for children aged five to 11 years at least six months after completing their second dose.

Under new guidance also released on Friday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization strongly recommended the third dose be offered to children who have underlying medical conditions, including immunocompromised kids.

For all other children, NACI said a first booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (10 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine may be offered at least six months after their last shot.

In Canada, daily COVID-19 cases have stabilized across the country, but public health officials and other experts have warned infections could surge again in the fall as activities move indoors.

Hospitalizations and deaths are also relatively stable after an early summer wave, but they remain far higher than in past years, according to the latest government data.

More coming…