Canada secures Pfizer vaccine doses for kids 5-11 ahead of approval

Canada has signed a deal with Pfizer to secure 2.9 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for kids, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed.

The pediatric doses, developed for children between the ages of five and 11, would be shipped upon Health Canada approval.

“I want people to be patient because Health Canada is going to be taking the time necessary to ensure that like all vaccines approved for use in Canada, vaccines approved for kids five to 11 will be fully safe and effective,” Trudeau assured Thursday.

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“It is extremely important that they go through all the full processes necessary so that every parent can have confidence when these vaccines do get approved, that they will be safe for their children, to keep us all safe, to keep them safe, to keep our communities and schools safe as we move forward,” the prime minister added.

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

“These deliveries will provide sufficient supply to provide a first dose to every eligible Canadian child,” Procurement Minister Anita Anand said.

BREAKING: PM @JustinTrudeau announces the feds have a deal with Pfizer to receive millions of doses of the vaccine developed for children 5-11, once it receives Health Canada approval. It means we will have enough supply to vaccinate all Canadian kids in that age group # cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) October 21, 2021

Anand says in anticipation of the vaccine being available, Canada has ensured it has the syringes and other supplies needed to administer these smaller doses.

“Deliveries for second doses will be driven by the rapidity of the roll-out and administration of the first doses,” she explained. “This will ensure that Canadian children have vaccines when they need them without keeping doses in freezers for extended periods of time when global demand is so high.”

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Pfizer requested the Canadian regulator’s approval of its COVID-19 vaccine, sold under the name Comirnaty, for children in that age group last week. This came after the company submitted its clinical trial data to Health Canada at the beginning of October.

The pharmaceutical company has also requested approval for use of its drug in children as young as five in the U.S.

The pediatric doses should begin arriving in Canada shortly after approval is granted, if that happens.