Canada authorizes Pfizer vaccine for ages 12-15

The premier of Alberta Jason Kenney said that anyone over the age of 12 will be eligible to receive Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.

Canadian health officials said on Wednesday they have become the first to approve Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for ages as young as 12.

The vaccine was previously authorized for anyone 16 or older.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is also expected to authorize Pfizer's vaccine for young people by next week, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year. The announcement comes barely a month after the company found that its shot, which is already authorized for those age 16 and older, also provided protection for the younger group.

Pfizer in late March released preliminary results from a vaccine study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15 showing there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared with 18 among those given dummy shots.

Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical advisor at Health Canada, said the evidence is there that the vaccine is safe and effective in that age group. It is the first vaccine approved for children in Canada.

Sharma said about one-fifth of all cases of COVID-19 in Canada have occurred in children and teenagers, and having a vaccine for them is a critical part of Canada's plan.