COVID-19 vaccine clinic bookings for children five to 11-years old to open Nov. 23 in Durham Region

Whitby, Ontario - Durham Region Health Department COVID-19 vaccine clinic appointment bookings for children five to 11-years old will open on November 23. Appointments can be booked at durham.ca/vaccineappointment or by calling 1-888-444-5113. Appointments will be available starting on November 25.

The paediatric COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine is authorized for children who will be turning five-years old in 2021 (born in 2016) to children who are 11-years old (born in 2010). The vaccine will be administered in two doses eight weeks apart for children to be fully vaccinated. The eight-week interval is optimal for longest lasting protection. The paediatric Pfizer vaccine will be a lower dose that is safe and effective at protecting children five to 11-years old from COVID-19 and the Delta variant. 

Children’s COVID-19 immunization clinics will be available in all area municipalities and will also be held at select school-based clinics by appointment only. For a listing of clinic locations and hours of operation, visit durham.ca/covidvaccines#Children-5-11. Children can also receive vaccine through select pharmacies and health care providers. For more information visit durham.ca/covidvaccines. Older family members or friends will not be able to receive vaccine during clinics designated for children; however, individuals 12-plus can book a separate vaccine appointment at durham.ca/vaccineappointment.

“We understand that parents will have questions about our clinics and the vaccine for their children, and we’re here to help,” said Dr. Robert Kyle, Durham Region Medical Officer of Health. “Information and resources are available on our website to help parents better understand the vaccine and how it will benefit their children, as well as details for parents to prepare their children for vaccination.”

One helpful resource is the CARD tool (https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/CARD_Vaccination_Handout.pdf)   that provides parents with helpful information on discussing the vaccine and clinic experience with their children. The CARD tool, which stands for Comfort, Ask, Relax and Distract, has a number of questions that parents can discuss with their children to help better understand what their child may need, along with tips to help children prepare for their appointment and vaccination.

Clinics for children five to 11-years old are now the priority. Appointments continue to be available on a more limited basis for individuals who are currently eligible for a third dose. Third dose vaccine appointments are still available through area health care providers and local pharmacies. Visit durham.ca/covidvaccines for details. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 11-years old, visit durham.ca/covidvaccines#Children-5-11. To book appointments for children, visit durham.ca/vaccineappointment.

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For more information, please contact the Health Department