The Middlesex-London Health Unit is encouraging parents and guardians of children who are five or who will be turning five before the end of the year, up to the age of 11, to have their kids roll up their sleeves. Starting Tuesday, November 23rd at 8:00 a.m., the Health Unit’s vaccination appointment booking system, at www.covidvaccinelm.ca, will begin offering dates and times when children will be able to get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The decision comes after the announcement last Friday of Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine for children and the Provincial Government’s announcement today that its online portal would begin taking appointment bookings tomorrow.
The expansion of vaccine eligibility to those born between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2016 comes eight months to the day since the Health Unit opened vaccine eligibility to anyone who was 12-years old, or who would be turning 12 in 2021.
“We know there are a lot of parents who are very enthusiastic about having their children protected against COVID-19 as soon as possible; and we also know there are parents who have questions they would like answered,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Acting Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “We have been planning this rollout for weeks, creating a welcoming environment for children who come to get vaccinated at the Agriplex or in Mount Brydges, and developing resources that we hope will answer many of the questions parents have.”
The Health Unit has taken several steps to help create a child-friendly environment at the Western Fair District Agriplex, and the Caradoc Community Centre, including brightly-coloured banners, physical distancing stickers on the floor, Look and Find activities, “stress stars” that a child can squeeze, and Family Pods where children will be vaccinated.
To book an appointment:
- Book online at www.covidvaccinelm.ca (new appointments open daily at 8:00 a.m.)
- Call 226-289-3560, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., seven days a week
The first vaccination appointments for children between the ages of five- and 11 are expected to take place before the end of the week. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine and children, and what to expect at the vaccination appointment, please visit the MLHU website at: https://www.healthunit.com/covid-19-vaccine-children-and-youth.
Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317 ext. 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell.)
Spokesperson:
Dr. Alex Summers, Acting Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit