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Niagara Region Public Health is excited that Health Canada has approved a vaccine for age 5-11 year olds. This age group currently has by far the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in Niagara, and the vaccine will provide them with very welcome protection.
The age 5-11 version of Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty vaccine approved today is a different formulation to the vaccine used in adults and children age 12 and older. The version approved for younger children is just as effective as the previous version, but with fewer side effects, ensuring children will have a great vaccination experience.
The new age 5-11 formulation of the vaccine is currently not present or available in Canada. With Health Canada’s approval today, the federal government will now be able to import the vaccine in the coming days and will then begin to distribute it across the country. Niagara Region Public Health expects to receive vaccine before the end of the month and will begin holding child-friendly clinics thereafter.
However, given vaccine is currently not yet in the country, please do not attend Public Health’s vaccine clinics, a pharmacy, or your primary care provider seeking the vaccine for a child.
In the coming days we will learn the timeline of receiving the vaccine in Niagara, and will be sharing when bookings will open and our clinic schedule. Between Public Health, pharmacies, and primary care, every child age 5–11 will be able to get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine before Christmas.
Parents or guardians who have questions or concerns about their child receiving the COVID-19 vaccine are invited to register for a virtual town hall, hosted by Public Health, on Tuesday, Nov. 23 from 7-8 p.m.
Public Health has a web page of FAQs related to vaccination of children as well as a general FAQ page, both of which will continue to be updated.
A message from Niagara Region Public Health
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