Canada set to receive 2.9 million doses of Pfizer vaccine for children
Published October 21, 2021 at 4:16 pm
Oakville MP and Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anita Anand announced Thursday that Canada will be receiving 2.9 million doses of Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine.
The shipment of COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 years old will arrive shortly after its approval from Health Canada.
The Pfizer pediatric vaccine is the first Canada has received for younger children. Doses are about one-third the size given to adults and teens ages 12 and up.
“Since April, when I signed the agreement with Pfizer for its pediatric vaccine, my team and I at PSPC have worked closely with Pfizer to monitor the timing of its regulatory submission so that we could coordinate deliveries,” Anand said.
“Based on this work, Pfizer has agreed to an accelerated delivery schedule of its pediatric vaccine once approved. In anticipation of such a vaccine being available, we have also ensured that Canada has the syringes and other necessary supplies to administer pediatric vaccines.”
Anand said second doses of the pediatric vaccine will be driven by the speed of the roll-out and administration of the first doses.
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She said for the extended periods when global demand is high, this will ensure Canadian children will have vaccines when they need them without having to keep them in freezers.
There have been nearly 58 million doses of vaccines administered across the country. A total of 83 per cent of Canadians are fully vaccinated.
The Oakville MP thanked Canadians for doing their part.
“We said that when vaccines were ready, Canada would be ready and we are,” she said. “In fact, it is this state of readiness that was an important factor in our negotiations with Pfizer to push for accelerated deliveries of these pediatric doses.”
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