Ontario families can book COVID-19 vaccine appointments for kids starting tomorrow
Children between the ages of five and 11 will be eligible to get their COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario this week, with families able to book appointments as of Tuesday.
Appointments will open up on the provincial vaccine portal around 8 a.m., officials said. Parents can also phone the call centre, book through their local public health units, go to a pharmacy or see their primary care providers.
Children must be turning five years old by the end of the year to be eligible.
“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,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a statement.
“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 said they expect to offer appointments as early as Nov. 25.
Children will receive two lesser doses of a vaccine at least eight weeks apart, officials said, as recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Parents and caregivers will have to provide their consent before or at the appointment.
Parents who may have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to call the provincial "vaccine confidence line" through the booking centre at 1-833-943-3900 or book an appointment to speak with a SickKids clinician through their consultation service.
Elliott said the vaccination of children is necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19, particularly the Delta variant, as about a third of new infections are in school-aged kids.
"I think that speaks to the need to get children vaccinated as being as important as adults being vaccinated," she said. "We know that at least 50 per cent of all of the parents of children in this age group are ready to have their child vaccinated right away. About 30 per cent want to have more information and that's why I think it's really important that we have these information channels available through SickKids. So they could ask whatever questions they need to ask."
The announcement comes less than a day after a plane carrying the first batch of Pfizer doses approved for children landed in Canada. Federal procurement minister Filomena Tassi said that Canada would have 2.9 million doses by the end of the week.
Ontario is expected to receive 1,076,000 doses of the paediatric Pfizer vaccine from the federal government.
Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Elliott said the shipments will arrive in two batches.
"I believe the shipment for today is about a little over 400,000 and then there's a shipment of a little over 600,000."
The province will then distribute the doses to public health units, pharmacies and primary care settings based on population. The City of Toronto, for example, said that it will have 20,000 appointments available for five to 11 year olds starting Tuesday at 8 a.m.
The paediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine was approved by Health Canada late last week.
In Ontario, nearly 85 per cent of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 have received a first dose of a vaccine. More than 80 per cent are considered fully vaccinated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.