Saskatchewan Children Ages 5-11 Receive First COVID-19 Injection | The Canadian News

Wednesday was the first day children ages five to 11 in Saskatchewan were able to receive an injection of Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine.

Clinics in the province’s largest centers opened their doors to administer doses of the newly approved vaccine after the provincial government said this week that 112,000 pediatric doses would be shipped to Saskatchewan.

Families were seen walking to reserved appointments at established clinics in Prairieland Park in Saskatoon and the former Costco building near Victoria Avenue East in Regina.

“I was very excited when I got the news that it was approved and now I’m very excited that it is done,” said Brett Seidler, whose daughter was immunized at Regina’s location.

The most recent information released by public health shows that children under the age of 11 account for nearly 17 percent of total COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan since the pandemic began.

That’s why the province’s health officials are still encouraging families to schedule appointments so that children can be protected by the vaccine and, in turn, protect those around them.

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“The five to eleven vaccination is good news. It will reduce our overall number of cases and reduce transmission within the home, especially also by protecting those under the age of five who cannot yet be vaccinated, ”Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Director Dr. Saqib Shahab noted during a provincial update. of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority shared that 16,388 pediatric vaccination appointments had been booked as of noon Wednesday and that many more reservations are still available.

The pediatric vaccine will be available in clinics in rural and remote areas of the province starting Friday.

You can find more information about childhood immunization appointments in the government website.

For families wishing to book appointments for their siblings, they are asked to call 1-833-SASK-VAX.