Children up to six months are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines: what you need to know

An announcement that parents of young children had been anticipating, Health Canada on Thursday announced the authorization of Moderna’s Spikevax mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of six months and five years.

As the First COVID-19 vaccine to receive the green light for this age group in this country, 1.7 million children in Canada are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“This authorization comes at a critical time in the pandemic as we move through the seventh wave,” Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, said Thursday. “And while children are less likely to experience complications from COVID-19, they can still get seriously ill.”

From how soon infants, toddlers and preschoolers could get their shots, to what the doses will be, CTVNews.ca takes a look at what parents need to know.

HOW SOON CAN THIS AGE GROUP BE VACCINATED?

While vaccine launches are the responsibility of provinces and territories, Deputy Director of Public Health Dr. Howard Njoo told reporters Thursday that according to provincial and territorial projections, there will be sufficient supply of the Moderna vaccine for children. from six months to five years. with the launch starting soon.

“There has been work behind the scenes and we are certainly in a good position. I understand that sufficient vaccine will be available and will be distributed to the provinces and territories so that they can begin their programs to offer vaccination to young children. in this age group very soon,” Njoo said.

The federal government suggests that parents check with local health authorities when the vaccine will be available in their area.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?

Based on data from clinical trials, the immune response to Moderna’s vaccine for children ages six months to five years is comparable to the response seen in people ages 18 to 25.

The trials showed that starting two weeks after the second dose, this vaccine was 37% effective in trial participants aged two to five years and 51% effective in those aged six to 23 months.

“Clinical trials were conducted when Omicron was the predominant variant circulating in Canada and the United States,” Sharma noted.

WHAT IS THE DOSE?

Health Canada has licensed a two-dose primary series of the Moderna vaccine, with each dose of 25 micrograms, administered intramuscularly.

This is half the authorized dose for children 6 to 11 years of age and one quarter of the authorized dose for children 12 years of age and older.

Although Health Canada has authorized the injections to be given four weeks apart, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that the doses be given eight weeks apart in most cases.

For children six months to five years of age who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, NACI has issued a discretionary recommendation that three doses be offered, using an interval of four to eight weeks between each dose.

NACI also strongly suggests that this Moderna vaccine not be given on the same day as other vaccines.

“This precaution will help determine whether a side effect that may occur after immunization is due to the COVID-19 vaccine or a non-COVID-19 vaccine,” Njoo said. “There may be circumstances where a dose of this vaccine needs to be administered at the same time as another vaccine, in which case a health care provider can assist with decision making.”

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?

According to Health Canada, no safety concerns were identified through clinical trials, although, as is the case with other pediatric vaccines, side effects from the injection could be experienced.

The most common reactions are:

  • Irritability or crying
  • pain at the injection site,
  • Drowsiness or fatigue, and;
  • loss of appetite

Some less common side effects are mild to moderate fever, swelling at the injection site, nausea, tender lymph nodes under the arm, headaches, and muscle aches.

“Reactions were generally mild to moderate and resolved within a few days of vaccination,” Sharma said.

HOW LONG DID CANADA STUDY THIS?

Health Canada received Moderna’s request to extend the authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine to younger children on April 29, 2022.

This new authorization is the latest in a continuing series of eligibility expansions for this vaccine.

Health Canada initially licensed Moderna’s vaccine for use in people 18 years of age and older in December 2020, then licensed it for children 12 to 17 years of age in August 2021, and then gave the green light to give the shorts to children. from six to 11 years old in March 2022.

CAN I READ MORE ABOUT THE DATA?

Yes. As has been the case with prior authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines, Health Canada has published a series of documents related to the decision, including specific information about why the authorization was granted, what the clinical trials involved, and what the possible side effects are.

NACI has also published a full statement about your orientationincluding supporting evidence and rationale for their recommendations, such as the impact and risk factors associated with COVID-19 infections in this age group, as well as the ethics related to vaccines in pediatric populations.

The authorization also includes a requirement that Moderna continue to provide Health Canada with information on the safety and efficacy of this vaccine for the younger age group, including cases of myocarditis and pericarditis.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER COVID-19 VACCINES?

So far, Moderna’s vaccine is the only licensed COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of five.

However, it may not be the only option for long.

On June 23, Pfizer-BioNTech submitted an application to Health Canada seeking authorization of its Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine for children in this younger cohort.

That request is currently under review.

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