Canada’s health regulator authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12 and up on Wednesday.
Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser, confirmed the decision for the 12-15-year-olds and said it will help them return to normal life.
The vaccine was already licensed for anyone over 16 years of age.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to authorize Pfizer’s vaccine for adolescents next week in anticipation of next school year. Last month, the company concluded that its vaccine, which is already licensed for ages 16 and over in the United States, also provides protection to the younger age group.
In late March, Pfizer released preliminary results of a study among 2,260 American volunteers ages 12-15 that showed there were no COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated teens compared to 18 who received placebos.
The children had side effects similar to those of young adults, the company said. The main side effects were pain, fever, chills, and fatigue, especially after the second dose. The study will continue to follow participants for two years to learn more about the long-term effects of the injection.
The vaccination campaign has accelerated in Canada and the country expects to receive at least 10 million doses this month. More than 34% of Canadians have received at least one injection.
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