(Toronto) Health Canada has authorized the use of COVVI-19 Updated Vaccines updated by Pfizer and Biontech, as well as Moderna, for this season of respiratory viruses.
Moderna indicates that it will make vaccine doses for the Canadian market in its new Laval factory and that syringes will be filled in Cambridge, Ontario.
According to press releases from Pfizer and Moderna, the new mRNA vaccines will target the LP.8.1 variant, a descendant of the Omicron variant that the World Health Organization (WHO) was monitoring earlier this year.
The pfizer vaccine, called Cumirnaty, and that of Moderna, called Spikevax, are both approved for adults and children six months and more.
The provinces and territories are responsible for ordering the Vaccines against the COVVI-19 and for deciding who will receive them free of charge. Vaccines will be offered in pharmacies in the whole country, says Health Canada.
The National Consultative Committee for Immunization (CCNI) recommends the vaccination of elders, residents of long-term care establishments, immunocompromised persons, health workers and people at risk of developing a serious form of COVID-19.
It recommends two doses of vaccine per year for people aged 80 and over, residents of long -term care establishments and people six months old and more moderately immunocompromised.
The Committee also recommends one dose per year for people aged 65 to 79, health workers and people at risk of developing a serious form of COVID-19.
In addition, those considered by the CCNI as presenting a higher risk include people with underlying health problems, pregnant women, members of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, as well as members of racialized communities.
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