Children in Toronto Are First in Canada to Receive Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine, Local Officials Say | The Canadian News

A group of children in Toronto was the first in Canada to receive a dose of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine recently approved by Pfizer, local officials say.

In a press release, Toronto city officials said 10 vaccinations would be provided on Tuesday “ahead of a limited number of youth vaccination appointments on Wednesday and a large number of vaccinations on Thursday.”

Children from the Hospital for Sick Children attended a clinic to be vaccinated, according to the statement.

Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott, Toronto Mayor John Tory, Toronto Medical Director of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa, and SickKids Hospital Executive Director Ronald Cohen were present to witness the milestone.

“Today is a fantastic day here in Ontario to vaccinate the first children between the ages of 5 and 11, the first children in Canada. And I can tell you that everyone was very happy and very brave to be vaccinated, ”Elliott said.

“They were really superheroes who showed up for the vaccine and knew that they were protecting not only themselves, but also their friends, grandparents, parents and community.”

Tory also thanked the children and their families for coming to the clinic. He said the campaign to immunize children will be a success, with tens of thousands of appointments already booked at clinics in the city.

Last week, Health Canada approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in children ages five to 11.

The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines for children arrived in Canada on Sunday.

In Ontario, vaccine stocks opened Tuesday morning and most appointments began Thursday.

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