Federal Public Health is working “as quickly as possible” to approve new vaccines suitable for Moderna and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals’ Omicron, but no date has been set. On the eve of a potential eighth wave of COVID-19 this fall, getting a booster dose of the current vaccine is “top priority.”
Posted at 12:29 p.m
Henri Ouellette-Vézina La Presse
This was announced on Friday by Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) chief administrator Dr. Theresa Tam and her deputy, Dr. Howard Njoo, argues. “Health Canada is working very hard to review Moderna and Pfizer’s applications for the bivalent vaccine. I know the work will be done as soon as possible,” said Dr. tam
She also assured Canada will have “enough” doses of this new vaccine, said to offer more protection against the Omicron variant, if approved. “If you look at the current vaccine, it remains effective and restores your protection,” insisted Dr. Tam, however, added that people awaiting approval of the bivalent vaccine “would put themselves at risk” of contracting the virus this fall. , or suffer even more serious complications.
Health Canada also approved a booster dose of Pfizer’s BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 on Friday. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine approved as a booster dose in this age group. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends a two-dose primary series with an interval of at least eight weeks between the first and second dose for children without contraindications.
On Monday, the UK announced that it had approved Moderna’s next-generation COVID-19 vaccine, targeting the Omicron variant. It was a first in the world at the time. In Quebec, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MSSS) has already confirmed its readiness to start.
“The bivalent vaccine could be made available during the ongoing campaign. The latter can be distributed quickly if necessary, explains spokesman Robert Maranda. Québec is closely monitoring the development of the situation and is communicating regularly with the federal government. No information on the approval process is currently available. However, a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is scheduled for August 25. “Quebec will ensure it orders its share of the bivalent vaccine as soon as it becomes available,” Mr. Maranda confirmed.
The specter of an eighth wave
“We need to be prepared for renewed activity and potential new virus variants in the coming months, particularly in the fall as we return to work and school. Updating vaccinations is a top priority,” emphasized Dr. Howard Njoo on Friday.
In his eyes, the time is perfect to “stock up on high-quality masks and quick tests”. For public and private establishments, he even suggests “making an appointment now” to improve ventilation as much as possible “to optimize the circulation of clean air”.
Even if “the timing or severity of an autumn or winter wave is uncertain,” it is important to prepare for it, he stressed, recalling that children can also suffer serious complications related to the virus, even if the risks are “lower “ be.
In the longer term, governments need to prepare for possible other pandemics as well, Dr. Tam again and spoke about ways to predict the emergence of a new virus, including better supplies of medical equipment. “We have to think long-term and be prepared. It may not happen for a few years, but it will probably happen one day. And we don’t want to be in the same position again,” she said.
Update on monkeypox
As of August 19, there were 1,168 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Canada, including 30 hospitalizations, mostly males who have sex with males. The virus is still “closely monitored” nationally and globally. PHAC also recommends adopting “safe” sex practices and having “fewer sexual partners, especially anonymous partners” to reduce the risk of infection.