By Canadian Press

NewsAlert: Pfizer officially requests Health Canada approval for kids’ COVID-19 shot

Oct 18, 2021 | 2:41 PM

OTTAWA — Pfizer has asked Health Canada to approve the first COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years old.

As soon as the regulator gives the green light, providers will be able to start offering the COVID-19 shot to kids, though new child-sized doses might need to be procured. 

The doses are about one-third the size given to adults and teens age 12 and up. 

The vaccine was developed in partnership with Germany’s BioNTech and is now marketed under the brand name Comirnaty. It was authorized for people at least 16 years old last December, and for kids between 12 and 15 in May.

Pfizer already submitted clinical trial data for its child-sized dose to Health Canada at the beginning of the month, and made a formal request for approval to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week. 

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The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has also been tested on children as young as six months old. Topline data for children under five years old is expected as soon as the end of the year.  More Coming.

Laura Osman, The Canadian Press