COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for Children Ages 5 to 11

Posted On Tuesday November 23, 2021

November 23, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Below is a message from the Durham Region Health Department regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for Children ages 5 to 11.

Effective November 23, 2021, parents and guardians are eligible to book their 5 to 11 year old children for an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Durham Region. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine approved for use in Canada for this age group. The recently approved pediatric version is a lower two-dose series (one third of what is available for individuals 12 years and older) given eight weeks apart. 

Vaccinating children will provide them with strong protection against COVID-19 and the highly contagious Delta variant. The vaccine will decrease serious illness and long-term effects from COVID-19, help keep schools open, and reduce the rare but serious complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).  Since children can be infected and not have any symptoms, vaccination will help protect other family members too, such as those who are too young to receive the vaccine yet or vulnerable elderly individuals. 

Each of Durham Region’s eight municipalities will host community immunization clinics dedicated to children born in 2010 to 2016. Clinics will also be available in select schools across Durham Region. These clinics are by appointment only and are dedicated to vaccinating children of this age group. Older children and family members will not be able to get their vaccine at these clinics but remain eligible to receive immunization by booking at a community clinic for adolescents and adults. 

We encourage you to visit durham.ca/covidvaccines for to access tips and resources to prepare your child for their vaccine experience. To book an appointment at a community clinic, visit www.durham.ca/vaccineappointment or call 1-888-444-5113. Children will also be able to obtain their vaccine through select pharmacies and health care providers based on availability.

Sincerely,

Durham Region Health Department