OTTAWA – Health Canada says Canadians ages 12 and up can now be given the Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccine that targets the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the Omicron variant.

The vaccine can be given three to six months after a second dose of the primary vaccine series, or the most recent booster shot.

It is the second combination vaccine approved by Health Canada’s vaccine review team, but the first that targets the virus strains that are now most common in Canada.

The Moderna combination shot approved five weeks ago targets the original virus and the first Omicron variant, while the Pfizer shot targets the BA.4 and BA.5 strains.

Health Canada says 88% of cases identified in mid-September were BA.5 and 9% were BA.4.

(The Canadian Press)