Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 23, COVID-19 vaccine bookings will be open for Ontario children aged five to 11. This follows the arrival of specialized Pfizer-BioNTech childrens' vaccine into Canada which took place Sunday afternoon. The new vaccine was approved by Health Canada on Friday.
Ontario's Ministry of Health said bookings for children can begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. This will apply to approximately one million Ontario youngsters who are eligible to get their first dose, which will eventually be followed by a second dose.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said she is pleased that children will be able to get the shot as soon as Nov. 25 in some areas.
“The approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 is exciting news for families and represents a bright light at the end of the tunnel,” said Elliott.
“Offering the protection of the vaccine to children aged five to 11 is a significant milestone in Ontario’s fight against COVID-19 in advance of the holiday season. We continue to encourage all Ontarians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities.”
The province also said there is a concern as the cold weather will keep more people indoors, attending family gatherings and increasing the chance for infection, especially for those who are not vaccinated.
There are several resources available to Ontario families where vaccines can be booked. For booking an appointment online, children must be turning five years old by the end of 2021 (born in 2016), said the health ministry.
Locally, Public Health Sudbury & Districts said it is prepared to begin vaccinating children from ages five to 11 once the vaccine supply has arrived in the city, which is expected to occur on or near Nov. 25.
Parents will have several options for getting their children vaccinated, Public Health Sudbury said. Delivery channels will include existing mass immunization and pop-up clinics, pharmacies, primary care offices, and targeted in-school and after-school clinics. Special considerations will be given to children attending special needs schools, schools that service at-risk populations, and where schools may have reduced access or transportation concerns.
Booking vaccines appointments will be done via the provincial online booking system at Covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine and through the local call centre at 705-674-2299 (toll-free: 1-800-708-2505). Once available, our schedule will be listed on our website at PHSD.ca.
The Pfizder-BioNTech children's vaccine will be provided in two doses, with a recommended interval of eight weeks between first and second doses. The actual dosage for children is about one-third of the amount given to people age 12 and older.
For parents and care-givers who have questions about the vaccine are encouraged to call the Provincial Vaccine Confidence Line that can be accessed by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, or visit COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service to book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids clinician.
Also, parents or caregivers of children aged five to 11 will usually have to provide consent on behalf of the child before or at the time of the appointment.
