Health Canada is expected to announce the licensing of Moderna’s Omicron-targeted dual COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, CTV News has confirmed through senior government sources.
Moderna submitted its divalent enhancer to Health Canada for regulatory approval on June 30, with the aim of being available this fall.
Enhanced shot for people 12 years of age and older, targeting both the original COVID-19 strain as well as the Omicron variant.
The federal government has purchased 12 million doses of the vaccine, with supplies expected this year.
Pfizer-BioNTech also submitted the divalent enhancer for regulatory review. That submission was sent to Canada’s federal health regulator on July 25.
Director of Public Health Dr Theresa Tam said: “Our management colleagues at Health Canada are working very quickly in reviewing submissions from Moderna and from Pfizer-BioNTech regarding dose increases. chemotherapy,” said Public Health Director Dr Theresa Tam at a press conference on August 22.
“We’ve also made sure to provide enough divalent formulations if the regulatory agencies license the vaccine,” Tam said.
Questions have been raised about whether Canadians should wait for two-drug doses to become available before jumping in to buy another dose, which Tam has said is a decision that should be made based on the facts. individual risk factors.
Following a technical briefing with Public Health Agency of Canada officials on Thursday, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is expected to make an announcement on the “importance of COVID-19 vaccinations.” -19 as we enter the fall.”
With files from CTV News ‘Mackenzie Gray and Kevin Gallagher
