Health Canada authorizes Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

OTTAWA — On Dec. 23, Health Canada authorized the second COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, manufactured by Moderna.

Health Canada received Moderna’s submission on October 12, 2020, and after a thorough, independent review of the evidence, it determined that the Moderna vaccine meets the Department’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.

The authorization on Dec. 23 is a critical step in ensuring additional COVID-19 vaccines are available to all Canadians in all parts of the country. The different storage and handling requirements of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine mean that it can be distributed to isolated and remote communities, including the territories.

Health Canada is publishing a number of documents related to this decision, including a summary of the evidence that was reviewed to support the authorization of the vaccine.

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada will closely monitor the safety of the vaccine once it is on the market and will not hesitate to take action if any safety concerns are identified.

The terms and conditions of the Moderna vaccine authorization require the manufacturer to continue providing information to Health Canada on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine to ensure the benefits of the vaccine continue to be demonstrated through market use.

To further support the safe use of the Moderna vaccine, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) will update its recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines to inform federal, provincial, and territorial immunization programs.

The vaccine is indicated for use in people 18 years of age or older. Moderna is currently conducting additional studies in children from 12 years of age and older, and this indication could be revised in the future to include children if the data from these studies support it.