The first COVID-19 booster vaccine for children has been approved in Canada as kids across the country get ready to start another school year.
Health Canada on Friday said it had authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot for children aged five to 11 years at least six months after completing their second dose.
Under new guidance also released on Friday, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommended the third dose be offered to children who have underlying medical conditions, including immunocompromised kids.
For all other children, NACI said a first booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (10 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine may be offered at least six months after their last shot.
A shorter interval of at least three months may be warranted in the context of increased COVID-19 activity and risk, NACI said, although a longer interval may result in a stronger immune response, it added.
(1/5) Health Canada has authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty #CovidVaccine as a booster dose for children 5 to 11 years of age at least six months after completing their primary vaccine series. pic.twitter.com/oN8ylimjMp
“This booster dose provides a great option to restore protection for this age group, especially for those who are at high risk of severe illness,” said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, during a virtual news conference Friday.
With less than 50 per cent of Canadian children aged 5-11 fully vaccinated with two doses, NACI continues to strongly recommend a primary series of an authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccine — from Pfizer and Moderna — as a “top priority”, said Tam.
She said a COVID-19 booster dose is up to 90 per cent effective in protecting against severe outcomes.
In making its recommendations, NACI said it reviewed the spread and severity of COVID-19 in this age group, protection from vaccination and infection as well as clinical trial data, which showed that Pfizer’s booster dose was well tolerated in children aged 5 to 11 years.
“Side effects were typically mild or moderate and resolved themselves within a few days,” NACI said.
1:43 Expert says Canada can expect a spike in COVID-19 variants cases during fall and winter
Expert says Canada can expect a spike in COVID-19 variants cases during fall and winter
While Pfizer’s vaccine was given the green light to be used as a booster, Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine is only authorized to be used as a primary series for the first two doses for children aged 6 to 11 in Canada.
Meanwhile, daily COVID-19 cases are declining across the country, but public health officials and other experts have warned infections could surge again in the fall as activities move indoors.
Hospitalizations and deaths are also relatively stable after an early summer wave, but they remain far higher than in past years, according to the latest government data.
0:49 UBC researchers find ‘weak spot’ across COVID-19 variants
UBC researchers find ‘weak spot’ across COVID-19 variants
Tam stressed that Canadians should stay updated with their COVID-19 vaccinations even though thetiming and severity of future waves is uncertain.
“We must prepare for renewed activity of potential new variants of the virus in the months ahead,” she said.
“In particular, as part of readying ourselves for the fall, with more people returning to in-person work and children going back to (school), getting vaccinations up to date is a top priority.”
TORONTO – Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported net income of US$357 million for its third quarter, down from US$364 million in the same quarter last year.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says its profit amounted to 79 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with 79 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, totalled US$2.29 billion, up from US$1.84 billion in the same quarter last year.
Consolidated comparable sales were up 0.3 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands says it earned 93 cents US per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 90 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 95 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Fortis Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $420 million, up from $394 million in the same quarter last year.
The electric and gas utility says the profit amounted to 85 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from 81 cents per share a year earlier.
Fortis says the increase was driven by rate base growth across its utilities, and strong earnings in Arizona largely reflecting new customer rates at Tucson Electric Power.
Revenue in the quarter totalled $2.77 billion, up from $2.72 billion in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Fortis says it earned 85 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 84 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 82 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
TORONTO – Thomson Reuters reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as its revenue rose eight per cent.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says it earned US$301 million or 67 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30. The result compared with a profit of US$367 million or 80 cents US per diluted share in the same quarter a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter totalled US$1.72 billion, up from US$1.59 billion a year earlier.
In its outlook, Thomson Reuters says it now expects organic revenue growth of 7.0 per cent for its full year, up from earlier expectations for growth of 6.5 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Thomson Reuters says it earned 80 cents US per share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of 82 cents US per share in the same quarter last year.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 76 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
