On March 17th, Health Canada authorized the use of the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 to 11 years of age. This vaccine was previously authorized for use in patients 12 years of age and older. NACI recommends that a complete series with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to children in the authorized age groups without contraindications to the vaccine, with a dosing interval of at least 8 weeks between the first and second dose. (Strong NACI Recommendation)

For children 6 to 11 years of age (which is the age group in which the Moderna Spikevax 50 mcg primary series vaccine is authorized):

Moderna Spikevax (50 mcg dose) may be offered as an alternative to PfizerBioNTech Comirnaty (10 mcg dose), however the use of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (10 mcg dose) is preferred to Moderna Spikevax (50 mcg dose) to start or continue the primary vaccine series.

Recommendations on the use of Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 to 11 years of Age Although risk of myocarditis/pericarditis with the Moderna Spikevax (50 mcg) in children 6 to 11 years of age is unknown, with a primary series in adolescents and young adults the rare risk of myocarditis / pericarditis with Moderna Spikevax (100 mcg) was higher than with Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (30 mcg).