Health Canada is now saying the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe to be given to teens from the age of 12 to 15.
The vaccine had previously been approved for those 16 and up.
However, the change comes after clinical trials in adolescents of that age group were found to be safe and successful, with no COVID-19 cases found in those given the actual vaccine.
Eighteen cases were identified in the participants given a placebo shot.
Pfizer-BioNTech must keep Health Canada briefed with “additional information” on the vaccine’s “safety, efficacy and quality,” to confirm the benefits continue to outweigh the risks.
Health Canada’s Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Supriya Sharma, said since the pandemic began, 20 percent of COVID-19 cases in Canada have been in those under 19 years of age.
More than 2,200 teens participated in the clinical trial in the United States.
The vaccine was found to be 100 percent effective after two doses in those aged 12-15, up from 95 percent in older age categories.