Pfizer’s updated COVID-19 vaccine for the upcoming fall and winter months has gained approval from Health Canada.
Pfizer’s updated vaccine is approved for people six months and older.
This resolution follows the recent approval of Moderna’s updated vaccine for all Canadians six months and older.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are single-dose vaccines for people ages five and older.
Three shots of the Pfizer vaccine are for children ages six months to 4 years who have not received their first series of COVID-19 vaccines.
Health Canada says it is recently reviewing an updated mRNA vaccine from Novavax.
The Novavax vaccine has been submitted for review in those 12 years and older.
At the time of Moderna’s approval, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Supriya Sharma, said the branch was actively reviewing Pfizer and Novavax’s submissions for their XBB. 1. 5-targeting vaccines.
“These submissions are reviewed as precedent through committed clinical teams,” he said at a Sept. 12 press conference.
“The timing of those reviews depends on many factors. We will make decisions once we have thoroughly evaluated all the required information.
The approval of the vaccine coincides with the emergence of two new COVID-19 variants, BA. 2. 86 and EG. 5, in the country, and experts have once again returned to caution and support continued vigilance in public health measures.
“This vaccine is expected to provide an immune response that is effective against the Omicron XBB. 1. 5 variant,” Sharma said.
In recent weeks, Canada has noticed an increase in reported COVID-19 cases, and Canada’s Director of Public Health, Dr. Susan S. Sullivan, has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases. Theresa Tam, attributed this increase in part to the decline in vaccine efficacy over time, highlighting the importance of getting an updated vaccine.
On Sept. 6, Pfizer said its new COVID-19 vaccine caused a strong antibody reaction against the highly mutated BA. 2. 86 variant of the coronavirus in a preclinical study in mice.
Moderna also said data from human clinical trials showed its current vaccine would likely be effective against the variant.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) continues to recommend that older age groups receive an updated dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this fall, six months after their last vaccine dose or infection.
With the Canadian press