By Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine can now be used on children aged 12 to 15, Health Canada announced Wednesday.

“After completing a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the Department has determined that this vaccine is safe and effective at preventing Covid-19 when used in children between 12 and 15 years of age,” Health Canada said in a statement.

Earlier the department had approved the vaccine for use on people as young as 16 years of age.

Health Canada based its latest decision on an American study of 2,260 adolescents aged 2 to 15.

A spokesman for Pfizer Canada says this will help keep children safe from Covid-19.

“Today’s expansion of our authorization represents a significant step forward in helping the Canadian government broaden its vaccination program and begin to help protect adolescents before the start of the next school year,” said Fabien Paquette. “We are proud that we are playing a part of the efforts to help protect adolescent Canadians in this devastating pandemic.”

Another study is under way to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in children as young as six months.

(Eagle News Service)