Moderna’s updated COVID vaccine targeting XBB.1.5 approved in Canada

globalnews.ca:

COVID-19 booster shot in hopes of bolstering the nation’s defence against the virus as the fall season approaches.The health regulator on Tuesday approved the updated vaccine made by Moderna for all Canadians aged six months and older. Approval for the updated Pfizer and Novavax vaccine under review has not been announced.The updated mRNA vaccine is tailored to the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant that is circulating in the country.

It also has additional sequences that target other Omicron variants.The vaccine is expected to rollout in most provinces and territories at the beginning of October, in alignment with the influenza shot, Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said during a briefing on Tuesday.“This vaccine is anticipated to provide a robust immune response that will be effective against the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant,” Health Canada senior medical advisor Dr.

Supriya Sharma said during the Tuesday.Those who are five years of age and older should receive one dose of the vaccine, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination history, she said.Children between six months and four years of age should receive two doses if they have not been previously vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine. If they have been previously vaccinated with one or more doses, they should receive a single dose, Sharma added.The approval comes as new COVID-19 variants — BA.2.86 and EG.5 — circulate the country, raising concerns about the effectiveness of existing vaccines and the need for continued vigilance in public health measures.Canada has seen an uptick in reported COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks, which Tam credited in part to reduced immunity as the vaccine’s effectiveness wanes over time.This comes a day after the United States