Following today’s announcement from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, all children between the ages of five and 11 years-old will be eligible to receive a booster dose of the pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine starting on Thursday, September 1st. Children in this age group first became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on November 23rd, 2021. Today’s announcement had been anticipated, as both Health Canada and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) had approved booster doses of the vaccine for this age group on August 19th.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit has a supply of the pediatric Pfizer vaccine and will begin making it available to families with children between five and 11 years-old starting tomorrow at its mass vaccination clinic at the Western Fair District Agriplex and its mobile vaccination clinic at the Sherwood Forest branch of the London Public Library. The vaccine will also be available at the Caradoc Community Centre mass vaccination clinic starting next Monday at 11:00 a.m.
It is recommended that children in this age group receive their booster dose six months after they completed their primary two-dose series of COVID-19 vaccine, however it may be administered as early as three months from their second dose.
“We’ve heard from parents who have been looking forward to having their youngsters get their COVID-19 booster dose before they return to class. We are ready for them and their children to come back to our vaccination clinics,” says Tracey Gordon, Manager of Vaccine Preventable Diseases with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We know COVID-19 is still circulating in the community, so getting that optimal protection before we start spending a lot more time indoors is a good idea.”
For a complete list of COVID-19 vaccination clinics, including locations, dates and times, visit www.healthunit.com/covid-19-vaccine-clinics.
Due to the expected demand for booster doses for children five to 11 years-old, the Health Unit strongly recommends that parents and guardians book their child’s booster dose vaccination appointment in advance at www.covidvaccinelm.ca, using Gate 1. Appointments can also be booked over the phone by calling 226-289-3560, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317, extension 2469 or 519 617-0570 (cell.)
Spokesperson:
Tracey Gordon, Manager of Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Middlesex-London Health Unit