Ontario expects supply of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for infants late next week

Ontario expects to receive a supply of COVID-19 vaccines for children between the ages of six months and five years by “late next week.”

A spokesman for Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the province expects supply of the pediatric Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to come from the federal government by then, now that the shot has been approved in Canada.

Stephen Warner said in a statement the government is ready to distribute the shots across the province and aims to begin administering doses “as soon as possible.”

“We will keep parents informed and share more information in advance of the vaccines arriving in Ontario on when and how parents can book a vaccine for their children,” he said.

The news from Ontario follows a federal announcement that Health Canada has approved Moderna’s two-dose pediatric vaccine for young children.

“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 6 months and 5 years of age,” Health Canada said. 

“Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to closely monitor the safety of this vaccine and will take action as necessary.”

The drug regulator says the vaccine can be administered in doses one-quarter the size approved for adults, at an interval of about four weeks between shots.

“Vaccines are safe and effective, and they remain the best defence against serious illness and hospitalization — please, get yourself and your kids vaccinated,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Ottawa’s Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario tweeted that parents would soon be able to pre-register at the clinic “if your child needs extra support to receive their vaccination.”

“Infants and young kids have waited for the longest for approved protection against COVID-19. This is a great step forward, and we encourage all parents to get their youngest kids vaccinated against COVID and the many other infections for which there are safe kids’ vaccines that work well,” the hospital said on Twitter.

????1/ Great news that the Moderna vaccine has now been approved in ???????? for kids aged 6 months to 6 years. We've got 2 new resources to help healthcare providers, parents and guardians make decisions. pic.twitter.com/VQFNbYfIFy

— Kelly Grindrod (@kgrindrod) July 14, 2022