On Friday, Health Canada authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years of age. This is a critical milestone for our fight against COVID-19, as it is the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use in this age group.
All vaccines approved by Health Canada are safe and effective for use.
As a parent, I understand how difficult this school year has been with children under the age of 12 not being vaccinated while in school all day. The City of Ottawa has seen a rise of COVID-19 cases in schools which has led to disruption in learning. To protect our children, parents, and education workers, I strongly encourage all parents to get their children aged 5-11 vaccinated as soon as it is possible to book appointments.
Residents of Ottawa can begin booking appointments for their children on Tuesday Nov 23, with the first doses being administered starting this Friday.
There will be several ways that children in Ottawa can get vaccinated.
Parents and caregivers will be able to book appointments for their children through the provincial vaccine portal just as they would have done so for themselves earlier this year. Three additional community vaccine clinic locations will also be opening in Ottawa to accommodate for the increased demand for vaccines now that this age group has been approved.
Additionally, Ottawa Public Health will be opening after-hours school pop-up vaccine clinics at different schools over a span of four weeks. Please know that Ottawa Public Health has clearly stated that no children will be vaccinated without the consent of their parent or caregiver.
If parents or caregivers have any questions or are hesitant to get their child vaccinated, Ottawa Public Health encourages parents to visit their website for up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccinations for children.
For any advancements or further details, residents of Orléans and Ottawa should stay up to date with Ottawa Public Health here.
Let’s get our children aged 5-11 vaccinated as quickly as possible!