Review of First COVID-19 Shot for Youngest Kids Expected to Finish Mid-July: Health Canada

Federal health officials are reviewing a submission from Moderna seeking to have its COVID-19 shots approved for children as young as six months old.

In a series of tweets on July 5, Health Canada said they expect to make a decision by mid-July on whether or not to approve Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of six months and five years old.

Moderna plans for two COVID shots, each one a quarter of its adult dose, to be given a month apart. If approved by Health Canada, they will be the first pharmaceutical company permitted to provide their vaccine to Canada’s youngest children.

Health Canada also said it received a submission from Pfizer-BioNTech on June 23 requesting authorization of its vaccine for children between six months and four years old.

Meanwhile, federal health minister Jean-Yves Duclos has advised Canadians to get a COVID booster shot every nine months in order for their vaccination status to stay “up-to-date.”

“What exactly do we mean by up-to-date vaccination? Let me be very clear: Up-to-date means you’ve received your last dose in the past nine months,” Duclos said in a June 30 press conference.

“If you’ve already received a first booster, that’s great, and please see if you’re eligible for a second or a third booster to remain up-to-date.”