Sept 12 (Reuters) – Canadian well being officers on Tuesday approved Moderna’s (MRNA.O) COVID-19 vaccine concentrating on the Omicron subvariant, urging all Canadians over the age of six months to get recent inoculations because the nation sees an uptick in infections.

Health Canada mentioned in an announcement that it has decided that the Moderna SPIKEVAX COVID-19 vaccine concentrating on the Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine meets the division’s stringent security, efficacy and high quality necessities.

“We are absolutely encouraging people to get protected both with COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot,” Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam mentioned throughout a information convention after the announcement, including that Canadians can count on to start out receiving the brand new photographs to start with of October.

The announcement comes as COVID-19 exercise indicators proceed to extend, the division mentioned on its web site, noting that the nation noticed a spike within the variety of hospitalizations throughout the first week of September.

“Vaccination continues to be one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves against COVID-19,” it mentioned.

It mentioned those that haven’t acquired a vaccine or a booster dose inside the final six months ought to accomplish that. Anyone aged 5 years and older ought to obtain one dose of the Moderna vaccine, no matter their COVID-19 vaccine historical past, the division mentioned.

Children between six months and 4 years of age ought to obtain two doses in the event that they haven’t been beforehand vaccinated, or one dose if they’ve been beforehand vaccinated, it mentioned.

On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized up to date COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna in addition to from Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech (22UAy.DE).

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