National

Health Canada greenlights updated Moderna booster

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Nov, 2022 03:52 PM

OTTAWA - Health Canada has authorized an updated version of Moderna's COVID-19 booster vaccine.

The new bivalent shot targets the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants and is meant to be used as a booster dose for those aged 18 years and older.

(3/4) After a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the bivalent Moderna Spikevax booster is safe and effective.
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) November 3, 2022

It comes two months after Health Canada authorized a bivalent booster from Moderna that targeted the Omicron BA.1 subvariant and the original strain.

Health Canada says a bivalent booster triggers "a strong immune response" against both of the more recent Omicron subvariants,as well as the original SARS-CoV-2 virus strains.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization says Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are the dominant strains in circulation.

They feature several key mutations from the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading NACI to strongly recommend bivalent boosters that target Omicron.

On Oct. 7, Health Canada authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech's bivalent booster for people aged 12 and older. It also targets the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Police seeking video following shots fired at a South Surrey residence

On Wednesday, just after midnight, Surrey RCMP received the report of shots fired at a residence in the 12700-block of 27A Avenue. Police attended and located evidence consistent with a shooting. The residence was occupied at the time of the shooting, but thankfully, no one was injured.

Police seeking video following shots fired at a South Surrey residence

Canadian city pays tribute to Moosewala, plants a tree

Brampton was a second home to Moosewala, who went there in 2016 as an international student, and soon became a behemoth in the music industry delivering chart-topping hits. Punjab police recently arrested gangster Deepak Tinu, one of the main accused in the murder case.

Canadian city pays tribute to Moosewala, plants a tree

Police acting as 'social workers' at risk: officer

Sgt. Steve Addison said the stabbing death of RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang in Burnaby, B.C., this week has highlighted the fact that officers are increasingly ending up in potentially dangerous situations.

Police acting as 'social workers' at risk: officer

David Eby to be declared B.C.'s NDP leader

There's no word on when Eby will be sworn in as premier, but outgoing Premier John Horgan says he fully supports him and accused Appadurai's campaign of resorting to tactics of "thuggery." Eby, the former B.C. attorney general and housing minister, says he will also lay out plans today for his first 100 days in office.

David Eby to be declared B.C.'s NDP leader

First rain in over a month dampens southern B.C.

Rain is expected to continue through Saturday and into next week and shishalh Nation Chief Warren Paull anticipates the Sechelt area could receive as much as 35 millimetres from the expected round of systems, but says much more is needed.

First rain in over a month dampens southern B.C.

Surrey RCMP warn of high potency batch of Fentanyl circulating in North Surrey

Surrey RCMP is warning the public of a batch of high potency Fentanyl circulating and reminding people using street drugs to take appropriate precautions. There is high potency Fentanyl circulating in the North Surrey area, which increases the risk of overdose.