Canada authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster for adults
CTV
Health Canada has approved a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 18, though third doses have already been given to high-risk people across the country.
The booster is designed to help people with their first two COVID-19 vaccine doses maintain their protection against the virus over time.
The booster is identical to the regular Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and is to be given at least six months after the first two vaccine doses. Clinical trials have shown side-effects more or less the same as those experienced with the original two doses of the vaccine.
Health Canada's review found the booster dose met the regulator's safety, efficacy and quality requirements, according to a news release from the department.
Different provinces have employed different rollout strategies for booster doses, and mRNA vaccines like Pfizer-BioNTech have already been used to offer longer-lasting protection to high-risk people in several parts of the country.
