Health Canada has approved COVID-19 vaccination of children between ages five to eleven

BY PAUL JUNOR

On October 29^th, 2021, the FDA approved the Pfizer-Bio-Tech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to eleven. This subsequently led to the approval of the vaccine by Health Canada and the rollout of vaccination appointments during the week of November 22^nd – November 26^th.

Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Health Minister states, “Offering the protection of the vaccine to children aged five to eleven is a significant milestone in Ontario’s fight against COVID-19 in advance of the holiday season. We continue to encourage all Ontarians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities.”

There are many questions that parents, guardians and caregivers of young children have about the vaccine. Dr Isaac Bogoch, infectious disease specialist from the University Health Network reported, “Others have lingering questions and residual questions. That’s OK. It’s totally OK, acceptable, normal and expected to have questions about this.”

There will be specific and unique questions that will be raised. Dr Anne Wormsbecker, paediatrician at St. Michael’s Hospital of Unity Health Toronto states, “Many people need some time with a trusted health-care provider or trusted resources.” One of the lingering questions is,” How is Health Canada determining the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines for use in kids, including against the variants of concern?” 

Paediatrician Dr Martha Fulford of McMaster University has raised several questions about the U.S. FDA’s approval process. The sample size of 1,300 children that was the basis of its approval was small and the fact that it was done in only two months is a relatively short timeline. She states, “It’s not a slam-dunk conversation with kids. When we talk about vaccinating children, the objective is clearly not to prevent severe disease, hospitalization and even death because that’s not what they’re at risk for.”

Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) formed the basis of Health Canada’s approval. The NACI states, “It is essential that children aged five to eleven years and their parents are supported and respected in their decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for their children, whatever decisions they make, and are not stigmatised for accepting or not accepting the vaccination offer.”

There are uncertainties about the potential hospitalizations for vaccine-related myocarditis, which the small trial size did not indicate. In fact, “The overall safety and effectiveness data are limited for children.”

According to Ontario Public Health, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have only been eighty-six children between the ages of five to eleven who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Dr. Fulford states, “Eighty-six admissions in almost two years is not an emergency. The emergency to our kids is all the restrictions we’ve put on them. COVID-19 is an infection of all, but it’s a disease of adults.”

Furey concludes, “Parents would do well to read NACI’s report when considering these issues.”