Health Canada authorizes Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster shot – CBC

Pfizer-BioNTech was approved for use as a booster earlier this week

Nov 12, 2021

Health Canada has authorized Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine (also known as Spikevax) for use as a booster shot.

Earlier in the week, the department approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine (Comirnaty) for use as a booster.

Both are mRNA vaccines.

The Moderna booster shot will be half a dose, Health Canada said in a news release on Friday.

That differs from the Pfizer booster, which is a full dose.

“A COVID-19 booster shot is an extra dose of the vaccine given after completion of the primary vaccine series,” the news release said.

“The booster shot is designed to help people maintain their protection against COVID-19 over time.”

Both the Moderna and Pfizer booster shots are authorized for adults 18 years of age and older to be given at least six months after the regular second dose.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health-canada-moderna-covid-19-booster-1.6246844