With the province opening appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to 11 on Tuesday, you may be wondering when, where and how to reserve a vaccine for your child.
Last week, Health Canada gave the go-ahead for the use of Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine, which consists of a dose one-third the size of the adult version and will require two injections, which in Ontario will be at least eight weeks apart. .
The province has received its first shipment of more than 400,000 doses that are now ready to be administered through a variety of clinics.
The Star reviewed all vaccine stock information available to date to provide readers with a comprehensive guide for those looking to vaccinate their children:
How can I reserve an opportunity for my child?
Appointments can be booked through Ontario online COVID-19 vaccination portal for children ages five to 11 that will go live at 8 a.m. on November 23. Alternatively, you can call the Provincial Immunization Contact Center at 1-833-943-3900 to schedule a vaccination. Several public health units will also offer appointments through their own reservation systems, as will some indigenous-run pharmacies and clinics. Appointments are expected to begin on November 25.
Where can my child get a vaccination?
Public health vaccine clinics will again increase to accommodate children, and when you book through the provincial system, it should provide you with a location close to home.
Like the launch for teens and adults, some health units may also offer walk-in or pop-up clinics. Some family doctors will have shots for children. Shots will also be available at participating pharmacies.
Will my child’s school offer vaccination clinics?
Several health units, including Toronto, Peel and Durham, will incorporate school vaccination clinics into their plans for children to receive vaccines. Thirty high-risk neighborhoods Toronto Public Health has identified the first school clinics, including Flemingdon Park, Black Creek, Malvern, and Thorncliffe Park.
Toronto Public Health says is working to bring COVID vaccines to schools and more information will be coming this week. TPH has developed a mobile school clinic model in conjunction with vaccine partners and the city’s four public school boards. Parents and guardians will be informed when a clinic arrives at their school.
The Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board are offering clinics beginning November 25.
Will there be enough pediatric doses to ensure my child can get one?
Yes. Thousands of doses of the pediatric vaccine arrived in Canada on Sunday, and nearly three million doses are expected to be delivered by the weekend. according to federal procurement minister Filomena Tassi. Ontario has received more than 400,000 doses and expects another 600,000 on Tuesday for a total of more than a million, which, according to the province, is enough to provide a first dose to all eligible children.
Where can I get help finding a vaccine?
Vaccine Hunters Canada, the army of volunteers that helped teens and adults find their shots in the spring and summer, is back.
They have reactivated their Twitter and Facebook accounts to help with vaccines for children and the launch of third doses. They have also partnered with University Health Network’s Gattuso Center for Social Medicine, led by Dr. Andrew Boozary, to develop digital tools to improve access to COVID vaccines.
“We still feel like it’s a hands-on situation,” said founder and director Andrew Young. “We understand that Vaccine Hunters Canada means hope for many Canadians and we want to make it clear that we are here to help.”
Said Boozary: “The postal code has been a code for the structural determinants of health. Without a focus on equity in health, the same barriers remain for families and communities to access the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We simply cannot afford the access gaps that we saw earlier at launch. Communities must lead how the vaccine is reaching children and families, and we will work to remove all barriers that we can. “
I live in Toronto. What’s the plan here for the kids?
Toronto Public Health Plan includes managing Shots at city clinics, doctor’s offices, hospitals, community centers, and schools, complete with “superhero selfie stations” to make the experience fun. The city opens 20,000 appointments for children ages five to 11 on Tuesday morning at 8 am. There are 110 health and medical teams administering vaccines in their clinics.
The vaccine will be administered at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, Woodbine Mall, Scarborough Town Center, Cloverdale Mall and Mitchell Field Arena, and the hours of operation for these clinics will be extended for the next two weeks. There will also be some walk-in clinics, such as one at Humber River Hospital from Thursday, November 25 to Sunday, November 28, for children ages five to 11 living in Toronto. The first 500 children will receive a stuffed friend to take home.
What’s the plan for the rest of GTA?
The Peel, York, and Durham regions each have their own pediatric implementation strategy.
Peel will make the vaccine available in mass clinics, community and school clinics and through two mobile Vax Vans.
The York region plans to offer vaccines in select schools, as well as through pop-up clinics and community clinics. It also offers online appointment booking starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday at york.ca/COVID19vaccine or 1-877-464-9675.
Similarly, Durham will open appointment reservations on Tuesday for spaces starting November 25 at durham.ca/vaccineappointment or by phone at 1-888-444-5113. Appointments will also be offered at certain school clinics, which can be found at durham.ca/covidvaccines#Children-5-11.
Reference-www.thestar.com