Babies and toddlers are getting COVID-19 vaccines in Montreal as part of a clinical trial
A Montreal infectious diseases specialist is leading a new COVID-19 vaccine trial testing the Moderna vaccine on six-month-old to six-year-old children, the last and youngest group of kids to be eligible for vaccination in Canada.
The MUHC Vaccine Study Centre located in Pierrefonds, in western Montreal, just started vaccinating children in this age range last week and so far, 12 children have received the first shot, as part of Moderna’s KidCove clinical trial.
“It's going really well,” said the principal investigator Dr. Soren Gantt, from Sainte-Justine Hospital, because “there’s been a lot of interest.”
Families have primarily been recruited by word of mouth. The vaccine centre has also reached out to those who participated in vaccine trials before.
It is the only Moderna trial of its kind in Quebec. There is a handful underway in other parts of Canada, and more than 80 in the United States.
“We anticipate enrolling more than 50 kids here in Montreal. The entire trial involves more than 12,000 kids in Canada in the U.S.,” Gantt said.
The injection contains the same Moderna mRNA Spikevax product that is already approved by Health Canada, but only a 25-microgram dose, compared to the 50 micrograms being considered by the regulator now for six- to 12-year-olds and far smaller than the 100-microgram dose already approved for teens and adults.
With one survey showing that in Quebec, only about 60 per cent of parents of five- to 11-year-olds plan to get their kids vaccinated, it’s reasonable to assume that some parents might be hesitant to volunteer their baby for a vaccine study.
“People who volunteer for a vaccine trial are fairly pro-vaccine in general,” he said, though, “it's normal to have questions and we recognize that it's a different calculus to vaccinate your kid than to vaccinate yourself,” he said.
Study coordinators also inform parents that as the trial aims “to prove effectiveness, efficacy and safety in these age groups at this dose,” the study design dictates that “one-quarter of kids will get a placebo and may not directly benefit from participating in the trial,” said Gantt.
Although there are risks to any vaccine, Gantt said “the risks are anticipated to be lower than getting COVID-19.”
And as both of Montreal’s pediatric hospitals have reported throughout the pandemic, children can suffer from complications of the disease.
They see it "a bit rarely, but we're seeing kids, especially in the less than two years old age range, hospitalized with COVID,” Gantt said.
There have not been any signals of serious adverse effects in the trial so far, according to Gantt.
And he reiterated what many infectious diseases experts have been espousing for so long - that the ability to safely vaccinate every age group “is how we're going to get through the pandemic, by stopping transmission, much of it now occurring in the youngest age groups,” he said.
If families with children six months to six years old would like to participate in the vaccine trial, they can contact the MUHC Vaccine Study Centre, in Pierrefonds, at 514-624-7855 and ask for Giuliana.
The centre coordinates studies for both the McGill University Health Centre and the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.