The Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan health authorities are getting ready to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine first-dose shots for children between six months and five years old..Lisa Glover, Alberta Health Services (AHS) spokesperson, told reporters in a press conference on July 14, the AHS is completing the details on how the agency plans to roll out the Moderna vaccine for preschoolers and toddlers..“As always, our planning to roll this vaccine out to Albertans will depend on supply from the federal government. We expect to receive an initial supply and be able to begin rolling out this vaccine by the end of this month,” said Glover. .“We’ll update Albertans on next steps as soon as possible.”.The Manitoba government spokesperson does not know when it will start vaccinating younger children because of the limited access to the Moderna vaccine and it will start by vaccinating children who are immunocompromised first..A Saskatchewan Ministry of Health media release said it expects to vaccinate as early as the week of July 18 with a “staged approach.”.“We will announce the plans to deliver these vaccines throughout the province before they arrive, to permit families to plan to have their children vaccinated as soon as possible,” wrote the ministry..“It is anticipated that initial Moderna vaccine supplies for this age group may be limited, so these plans may include a staged approach to delivery.”.Dr. Jia Hu, a Calgary public health physician, said he hopes the Pfizer vaccine will be approved soon and is pleased with the Moderna approval..“It’s the last group of the population that hasn’t been eligible for a vaccine through this entire time, so I think it’s very nice,” said Hu..Not everyone is pleased with the approval for preschoolers and toddlers such as Kelly Lorencz, the People’s Party of Canada Western Canada and Territories lieutenant..“The COVID-19 vaccines should not be mandatory for anyone, children or otherwise. Making vaccines mandatory for children violates parental rights and freedom of choice. It is up to parents to assess the risks and benefits to their children of taking a vaccine,” said Lorencz..“I have been a vocal proponent of vaccine choice from day one and will continue to be. The PPC is opposed to all mandates. With the mainstream media fear-mongering about a seventh wave, our voice will continue to be important in the fight against ongoing state intrusion into the lives of Canadians.”.Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe received disapproval from web users online during Tim Hortons Camp Day on July 13 because Hortons does not allow unvaccinated children to attend their camps..Premier Scott Moe on Facebook said, “It’s #TimsCampDay. Consider stopping by your local Tim Hortons as 100% of proceeds from hot or iced coffee goes towards sending deserving kids to camp.”.Many comments criticized Moe for using the word “deserving” including Nadine Ness of Unified Grassroots, who said, “Scott Moe, who does your PR?! 'Deserving,' really?!”.Lorencz said that no one should take part in “medical segregation.”.“No one, business, state, or otherwise, should be practising medical segregation,” said Lorencz..Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for infants and preschoolers received approval by Health Canada (HC) on July 14, 2022, which makes it the first vaccine approved for children 5 years old and under in Canada..There are approximately two million additional children now eligible for vaccination across Canada..The toddlers and preschoolers will receive a dose that is a quarter of the adult Moderna vaccine dose..“After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the department has determined that the vaccine is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 in children between six months and five years of age,” wrote HC in a media release..Moderna needs to provide updated data on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine to HC..HC said in Phase 3 trials the immune response for children age six months to five years old was “comparable” to the 18–25-year-old demographic..Pharmacists will not do the shots for preschoolers and toddlers, but instead the provincial health agencies will be responsible..HC advised it will not give the vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, so it is easier to “identify any potential reactions.”.There were no safety issues in the Phase 3 trials, according to HC..Some preschoolers and toddlers had common reactions that children have with other vaccines such as sleepiness, loss of appetite, and pain where the needle went into their arm..Some of the less common reactions include “mild-to-moderate fever, swelling at the injection site, nausea, tender lymph nodes under the arm, headaches, and muscle aches.”.Pfizer’s COVID-19 pediatric vaccine data was submitted to HC in June and is still under review.
The Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan health authorities are getting ready to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine first-dose shots for children between six months and five years old..Lisa Glover, Alberta Health Services (AHS) spokesperson, told reporters in a press conference on July 14, the AHS is completing the details on how the agency plans to roll out the Moderna vaccine for preschoolers and toddlers..“As always, our planning to roll this vaccine out to Albertans will depend on supply from the federal government. We expect to receive an initial supply and be able to begin rolling out this vaccine by the end of this month,” said Glover. .“We’ll update Albertans on next steps as soon as possible.”.The Manitoba government spokesperson does not know when it will start vaccinating younger children because of the limited access to the Moderna vaccine and it will start by vaccinating children who are immunocompromised first..A Saskatchewan Ministry of Health media release said it expects to vaccinate as early as the week of July 18 with a “staged approach.”.“We will announce the plans to deliver these vaccines throughout the province before they arrive, to permit families to plan to have their children vaccinated as soon as possible,” wrote the ministry..“It is anticipated that initial Moderna vaccine supplies for this age group may be limited, so these plans may include a staged approach to delivery.”.Dr. Jia Hu, a Calgary public health physician, said he hopes the Pfizer vaccine will be approved soon and is pleased with the Moderna approval..“It’s the last group of the population that hasn’t been eligible for a vaccine through this entire time, so I think it’s very nice,” said Hu..Not everyone is pleased with the approval for preschoolers and toddlers such as Kelly Lorencz, the People’s Party of Canada Western Canada and Territories lieutenant..“The COVID-19 vaccines should not be mandatory for anyone, children or otherwise. Making vaccines mandatory for children violates parental rights and freedom of choice. It is up to parents to assess the risks and benefits to their children of taking a vaccine,” said Lorencz..“I have been a vocal proponent of vaccine choice from day one and will continue to be. The PPC is opposed to all mandates. With the mainstream media fear-mongering about a seventh wave, our voice will continue to be important in the fight against ongoing state intrusion into the lives of Canadians.”.Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe received disapproval from web users online during Tim Hortons Camp Day on July 13 because Hortons does not allow unvaccinated children to attend their camps..Premier Scott Moe on Facebook said, “It’s #TimsCampDay. Consider stopping by your local Tim Hortons as 100% of proceeds from hot or iced coffee goes towards sending deserving kids to camp.”.Many comments criticized Moe for using the word “deserving” including Nadine Ness of Unified Grassroots, who said, “Scott Moe, who does your PR?! 'Deserving,' really?!”.Lorencz said that no one should take part in “medical segregation.”.“No one, business, state, or otherwise, should be practising medical segregation,” said Lorencz..Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for infants and preschoolers received approval by Health Canada (HC) on July 14, 2022, which makes it the first vaccine approved for children 5 years old and under in Canada..There are approximately two million additional children now eligible for vaccination across Canada..The toddlers and preschoolers will receive a dose that is a quarter of the adult Moderna vaccine dose..“After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the department has determined that the vaccine is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 in children between six months and five years of age,” wrote HC in a media release..Moderna needs to provide updated data on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine to HC..HC said in Phase 3 trials the immune response for children age six months to five years old was “comparable” to the 18–25-year-old demographic..Pharmacists will not do the shots for preschoolers and toddlers, but instead the provincial health agencies will be responsible..HC advised it will not give the vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, so it is easier to “identify any potential reactions.”.There were no safety issues in the Phase 3 trials, according to HC..Some preschoolers and toddlers had common reactions that children have with other vaccines such as sleepiness, loss of appetite, and pain where the needle went into their arm..Some of the less common reactions include “mild-to-moderate fever, swelling at the injection site, nausea, tender lymph nodes under the arm, headaches, and muscle aches.”.Pfizer’s COVID-19 pediatric vaccine data was submitted to HC in June and is still under review.
