Health Canada approves updated Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19

Health Canada has approved Pfizer's updated vaccine to protect people agedsix months and older from COVID-19.

Thursday'sauthorizationof the Pfizer-BioNTechComirnaty vaccine takes aim atthe Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant of the virus that causes COVID.

The updated vaccine is administered asone dose for those agedfive and up.

Children between six months and five years old who haven't received the primary series should receive three doses.

Pfizer Canada said it expects the newly formulated vaccine to be available "in the coming weeks" before the respiratory virus season is forecasted to peak.

Moderna'supdated vaccine was approved earlier this month.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer, noted Thursday that the new, updated vaccines show"good protection" against all the Omicron subvariants circulating right now. "So that's good news."

Rapid antigen tests available also still work, Henry said.

WATCH | Updatedcoronavirus vaccines:

Why isn't the updated COVID-19 vaccine called a booster?

12 months ago

Duration 1:09

Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, explains the newly approved COVID-19 shot.

"Canada will have ample supply of the new formulation of mRNA vaccines available in fall 2023," Health Canada said in a statement.

The regulator is also reviewing Novavax's latest vaccine for people aged 12 and older.

Federal officials aren't calling the shots "boosters." Rather, they view theupdated options in a similar way asannual flu shots.

The Public Health Agency of Canada's latest report for the week ending Sept. 23 shows thattest positivityfor the virus that causes COVID-19 has increased since early July.

The agency also saidactivity of common cold viruses known as enterovirus and rhinovirus is increasing, asexpected for this time of year.