A discussion was carried out on authorizing vaccines for children of age between 5-11 years and Health Canada expects to come out with a decision “in the next one to two weeks”.
As there was a surge in COVID-19 cases in the weeks following the holiday season, Health Canada had to consider the matter of vaccinating the Canadians of the remaining age group.
Chief medical authorities opinions and discussions on the vaccine authorization
At the beginning of the month, the United States authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for kids, adding to this news, Canada’s chief medical adviser Dr Supriya Sharma informed reporters about regulators “actively continuing” the review of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the said age group.
COVID-19 has since its start not shown much of its effect on children, however, the rare victims had a severe illness which is a major point of concern at this stage to stop spreading the virus among others. Dr Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief medical officer, highlighted the highest rates of the COVID-19 is to the kids below 12 years as the age group is the only left out of the population from getting vaccinated.
Expected plans for vaccinating the kids of 5-11 age group:
An announcement of the federal government about receiving 2.9 million Pfizer doses for children subject to approval is further to be actioned as providing the first jab after the authorization within the next two weeks. If the plan for supply and distribution of vaccines falls out correctly, a second dose will be actioned by Christmas leaving the country on a safer side in the pandemic.
Canadian authorities need to be on a flexible approach to seeing the festive season and on the other hand also needs to be ready to pull its relaxations back if the surge arises. Authorities have emphasized on vaccination to be completed to have gatherings to motivate the ones who have still not completed their both jabs.
Source: CTV News
