Health Canada Authorizes First COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids
Today, Health Canada has authorized a Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine made for children aged 5 to 11.
This vaccine for children has a smaller dose than the vaccine for those 12 years of age and older. This is because healthy children have a strong immune system compared to youth and adults. In clinical trials, lower doses provided children with very good protection against COVID-19. It’s not clear yet how long protection will last.
Children aged 5 to 11 years getting the vaccine should receive 2 doses. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that the second dose should be given at least 8 weeks after the first dose. Children who turn 12 before their second dose may receive an adult dose.
Health Canada had been prioritizing the review of Pfizer’s submission to use its vaccine in those ages five to 11 since Oct. 18, and a similar review is ongoing for Moderna’s two-dose mRNA vaccine for those ages six to 11.
According to Health Canada’s authorization, clinical trials have shown that the Pfizer vaccine was 95 per cent effective in protecting trial participants from COVID-19 for those 16 years and older, 100 per cent effective for those 12 to 15 years old, and 90.7 per cent effective for those five to 11 years old.
Why vaccinate children?
COVID-19 is having a greater impact on children and youth than earlier in the pandemic. This is likely because many have returned to in-person school and activities.
Although children and youth are less likely to get really sick from COVID-19, they can still:
get sick from COVID-19
be infected and not have any symptoms
spread COVID-19 to others
experience longer-term effects if they do get infected
get a rare but serious complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
Children and youth with certain underlying medical conditions may have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines help the body fight off the virus. Like adults, children and youth are well protected against severe illness 14 days after their second dose. Those who have already had COVID-19 may still get vaccinated to protect themselves from getting it again.
If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, they can receive 2 doses of the vaccine once they no longer show symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
If possible, children shouldn’t receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine within 14 days of other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine. This is a precaution to monitor any side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine or another vaccine. In some cases, your child’s health care provider may recommend a vaccine that’s needed urgently. This may happen even if your child has received the COVID-19 vaccine in the past 2 weeks.
Adults and youth aged 12 to 17 may receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time or any time before or after, other vaccines.
How do vaccines work? How are they produced?
Vaccines are made from tiny amounts of dead or weakened germs called microbes. They help your body's immune system learn how to protect itself against disease by building antibodies and immune memory. Vaccines create immunity that protects you from an infection without causing suffering from the disease itself.
Vaccines are also called immunizations, needles or shots.
Some vaccines prevent one disease, while others are combined to protect you from several diseases with one shot. Often, your immune system remembers how to keep fighting a disease for the rest of your life. Sometimes immunity needs to be reinforced, and that's what booster shots are for.
Vaccines protect individuals against specific diseases, but they also help those who have not had the vaccine by creating “community immunity” (also known as “herd immunity”). When most people in a community have been vaccinated against a disease, the chance of an outbreak of that disease is greatly reduced. This protects people vulnerable to the disease, such as babies too young to be vaccinated, people undergoing chemotherapy, the elderly, and people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
A new vaccine begins with a very careful study of the disease it is meant to prevent. Studying the disease allows scientists to learn more about the microbe (bacteria or virus) that causes it.
Vaccines are made in different ways. For some, the microbe which causes the disease is “killed”, or inactivated, in the manufacturing process. For others, the parts of the microbe that cause your body to make antibodies are used in making the vaccine. And in other cases, the living microbe is weakened but remains strong enough to give you immunity without causing the disease itself.
Once this vaccine has been developed, clinical trials can begin. The trials go through several phases involving an increasing number of volunteers until the vaccine is proven safe and effective to use.
The process of making and testing the vaccines that protect you is a long, careful and scientific one that has been designed with the health of you and your family as a top priority.
Vaccine Anxiety
Children and youth may have anxieties about vaccination. Knowing what to expect can help ease worries and make vaccination a positive experience for your family.
Tell your child about vaccination using age-appropriate language. Tell them what will happen and how it will feel. Try using words such as 'pressure' or 'poke' to describe how it might feel. Avoid misleading information like 'it won't hurt.'
Answer your child's questions and tell them what you'll do to help make it a better experience. Try to stay calm, use your normal speaking voice and be positive before, during and after the vaccination. Children see and feel what their parents are doing and often do the same.
Pick strategies that consider your child's needs and preferences for coping and bring them with you. Try:
distraction (toys, games, music, talking or singing)
relaxation techniques (deep belly breathing)
numbing medications for the skin called 'topical anesthetic'
these medication dull sensation from the needle and are available from the pharmacy without a prescription
medication should be applied 30 to 60 minutes before the appointment, so plan ahead
Other tips for easing vaccine anxiety in older children include:
Being present during the procedure, and staying positive and attentive to your child to help them feel safe and supported.
Having your child sit upright during vaccination.
It may be necessary to hold your child in a supportive position to help them feel comfortable and stay still.
Ask your child to relax their arm and to let it feel loose and jiggly like cooked spaghetti.
If your child feels faint or dizzy, encourage them to squeeze their legs together for 15 seconds or until they feel warm in the face.
Then tell them to relax the muscles and repeat a few times or until the symptoms go away or lie down
If your child has a high level of needle fear, talk to your health care provider about it. Your child may benefit from treatment of the needle fear with an expert such as a psychologist. Treating needle fear can help children to accept vaccination and other needle procedures.
Most importantly, share Health Canada’s resources like Teens, Meet Vaccines, which helps youth understand the science behind vaccines.
