Kids aged 5-11 now eligible to receive child-sized Pfizer dose.
Health Canada has authorized the first COVID-19 vaccine for use in children.
The agency has greenlit the Pfizer-BioNtech two-shot vaccine for kids aged 5-11.
The pediatric doses are one-third the size offered to those 12 and older.
Health Canada says the child-sized shots can be given 21 days apart.
"After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the Department has determined that the benefits of this vaccine for children between 5 and 11 years of age outweigh the risks," the agency says. "Health Canada has authorized a two-dose regimen of 10 micrograms to be administered three weeks apart, which is a lower dose than the 30 micrograms two-dose regimen authorized for people 12 years of age and older."
Canada is expecting an accelerated delivery of 2.9 million doses for kids, which is enough for every child in the 5-11 age group to get a first dose.
Officials say doses are expected to start arriving on Sunday, with the full amount expected by the end of next week.
Health Canada is also reviewing a request from Moderna for it's vaccine for kids aged 6-11.
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