Health Canada authorized a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of five and 11, according to Canada’s top doctor.
Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam told reporters on Friday that children with underlying health conditions be offered a booster no earlier than six months after their second dose.
“This booster dose provides a great option to restore protection for this age group, especially for those who are at high risk of severe illness,” said Tam.
The directive is in line with National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations, which says all other children in that age group may also be offered a booster.
Children would receive a 10-microgram dosage of the vaccine.
Tam said the latest wave of COVID-19 appears to have gone past its peak across Canada, with cases and hospitalizations beginning to decline in most areas.
Still, Tam said infections are likely to increase during the fall.
“We want people to get back to normal lives and be able to go to school, go to colleges [and] get back to work,” said Tam, adding vaccine campaigns for boosters will ramp up ahead of the fall.