5 - 11 Year Olds Eligible for Booster Doses
Media Release
August 31, 2022
Southwestern Public Health Opens Doors to 5 – 11-Year-Olds Seeking COVID-19 Booster Doses
This new eligibility follows guidance from the National Advisory on Immunization and approval from Ontario’s Ministry of Health
Starting tomorrow, September 1, 2022, Southwestern Public Health will open its doors to children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old who seek a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This expansion in eligibility follows the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s August 19 recommendations on the use of a first booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 in children of this age range.
“These booster doses remind our immune systems that a virus is still out there, and they need to be primed and ready to fight infection when exposed,” explains Dr. Ninh Tran, Acting Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Public Health. “We hope to see these children soon - before the start of the school year or early in the school year. That way their protection will be in full effect by mid-September when the weather cools and we’re back indoors with windows closed,” adds Tran.
Children between the ages of 5 and 11 must be accompanied by a legal guardian at the Health Unit’s family friendly clinics. Appointments are by walk-in only. The full schedule of dates, times, and locations is located at www.swpublichealth.ca/covid19vaccine. The schedule includes Mass Immunization Clinics and Mobile Clinics operated by Southwestern Public Health as well as GoVaxx Bus Clinics operated by the province. All clinics offer the Pfizer vaccine customized for children of this age group.
All children between the ages of ≥ 5-11 are eligible to receive a first booster dose (third dose) of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after completion of a primary COVID-19 vaccine series (two doses). The recommended interval is 6 months after completing the primary series. Legal guardians may provide informed consent for an interval of 3 months. Children, 5 – 11 years with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe outcomes and are recommended to receive a booster dose. This may include children who are medical fragile and/or have medical complexities or who have immunocompromising conditions. These conditions include diabetes, heart or lung disorders, neurologic or neuro-developmental conditions, cancer, obesity, Down Syndrome, anemia, renal disease or hemoglobinopathy
The administration of the booster doses is intended to both minimize serious illness and death caused by the COVID-19 vaccine and to transition away from the crisis phase of the pandemic response to a more sustainable long-term approach to managing the virus.
Contact
Megan Cornwell
Communications Manager | Southwestern Public Health
mcornwell@swpublichealth.ca