TORONTO — Health Canada has authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and BioNTech and by Moderna for use this respiratory virus season.

Moderna says it will manufacture vaccine doses for the Canadian market in its new facility in Laval, Quebec and syringes will be filled in Cambridge, Ontario.

News releases from both Pfizer and Moderna say the new mRNA shots will target the LP.8.1 variant, a descendant of Omicron that the World Health Organization was monitoring earlier this year.

Both Pfizer’s vaccine — called Comirnaty — and Moderna’s shot — called Spikevax — are approved for adults and children six months of age and older.

The provinces and territories are responsible for ordering COVID-19 vaccines and deciding who will get them free of charge.

The National Advisory Committee

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