Medical experts debate use of adult Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine formulation for kids
Parents and children are eagerly awaiting approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children between 5-11 years of age but with little data to go, and indications that Canada’s excess doses will not be usable, some in the medical industry are wondering why current practice wouldn’t apply to the new vaccine.
"If there is no pharmacologic reason, if there is no reason that we can’t dilute this or use the adult’s formulation we have, I think we do it," said Jennifer Lake, a pharmacist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto.
Lake, along with other pharmacists and doctors have been posing the question since Canada’s Chief Medical Officer of Health made the announcement Friday.
"I think that drawing out paediatric doses from the adult vials is not something that’s recommended at this point for a number of reasons," Dr. Theresa Tam said in her latest update.
Although Dr. Tam did not go into specifics, she did note the new formulation.
"We also understand from Pfizer that the formulation has shifted so this is their sort of mixed generation formulation so that is something that needs to be examined by the regulator," she added.
Lake agrees that the data needs to be considered by Health Canada and NACI, acknowledging the importance of the new formulation, but is still hesitant, likening the situation to the pooling debate that occurred earlier in the vaccine rollout.
"The company has a fiduciary reason for saying that, they sell us more if we don’t so this is where if the formulation is changing and they can explain it great, but if it’s just they’re diluting it more - they’re going to tell us to dilute it more - then we can dilute more what we’ve already got," Lake noted.
Other doctors are urging caution in these discussions even at such an early stage.
"I think we’re putting the cart before the horse. These types of things, which formulation is given, whether the adult formulation is given, all these things will be regulated by the proper authorities, I think we should wait for that," said Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious-diseases physician.
"This is a medical intervention. We want it to go through all the proper routes and procedures for this to be approved properly," he added.
Ottawa parents say they are confident whichever decision is made, it will be properly reviewed.
"For me it’s when it becomes available I trust that it’s been studied and looked at, and I’ll make sure I follow up on that, but I trust the people running these programs,” said Ottawa parent Grant McSheffrey.
Lake says no matter what decision is made, it is important to consider timely protection for children.
"We should be protecting school children as quickly as possible so that they can stay in school," she noted.
Still, some parents say they are willing to wait if it means getting the proper vaccine.
"I’m going to trust that when they give the guidelines they’ve done what they need to so if it means that we need to wait a little bit longer to be sure that it’s going to be effective and safe then that’s fine," Ottawa mother Frankie Nadeau said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.