Health Canada has given the green light for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be given to children 5-11.

The dose given to kids will be about a third the amount given to adolescents and adults and Dr. Tam says this is hoped to cut a trend in rising infections in the younger age group.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief medical health officer says data shows children develop strong protection from this vaccine and she says clinical trials show the vaccine is safe for children

It will be administered in two shots given no less than eight weeks apart.

Meanwhile, Dr. Supriya Sharma says, as in the case of the adult vaccine, the Pfizer kids jab is 95 per cent effective, and the main side effects were redness at the injection site, fatigue and headache.

Canada pre-ordered 2.9-million pediatric doses.

More details are expected to be given in regards to distribution later today or early next week.

CJGX