COVID-19 vaccines for children: What you need to know

After months of anticipation, BC children aged 5 to 11 are now able to receive their COVID-19 vaccination. While one-third of all eligible children have already been registered, some families are still hesitant, taking a wait-and-see approach. Here’s what parents and caregivers should know about the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine.

Why should my child be vaccinated?

The pandemic is still very real and has had a significant impact on young children who have missed out on school, extra curricular activities, and socializing with friends and vulnerable family members. While they are at lower risk of severe disease from COVID-19, children can still be hospitalized or have long-term effects. As with adults, vaccinating children will strongly protect them against COVID-19, including the highly contagious Delta variant, will help keep schools safe and open, and will help protect those around them such as the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, people undergoing certain treatments, and kids with special needs and other vulnerabilities.

Is it safe?

Yes. Health Canada approved Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine for use in 5 to 11 year-olds after a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence determined the benefits of the vaccine for children in this age group far outweigh the risks. In fact, millions of children aged 5 to 11 in the United States have already been vaccinated and are showing no signs of concern after all of those doses.

Will children receive the same dosage?

No, children aged 5 to 11 will receive the pediatric Pfizer mRNA vaccine which uses a lower dose (10 micrograms), at one-third of the dose formulated for those over the age of 12. This level is 90.7% effective at preventing COVID-19 in children 5 to 11 years of age and so far no serious side effects have been identified. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) advises that children still receive a two-dose series of the vaccine with an interval of eight weeks or more between the first and second dose.

Are there enough doses for all children?

Yes, vaccinating your child does not mean you are taking the vaccine away from someone else. Our country has procured enough vaccine for everyone, including our kids, and it is available to us now.

How can parents or caregivers book a vaccine appointment?

Registration and booking appointments can be done online by visiting the government’s How to get vaccinated for COVID-19 webpage or by calling 1-833-838-2323 seven days a week, between 7am-7pm. Make sure to have the following information ready:

• Child's first and last name
• Child's date of birth 
• Postal code of child's primary residence
• Child's Personal Health Number (PHN)
  • If your child doesn’t have a PHN, you must call in to register and book an appointment
• An email address that gets checked regularly or a phone number that can receive text messages

Clinics throughout the province have been set up where parents can safely bring their young children for vaccination. Many clinics have private or quiet rooms for children who may be apprehensive.

We can only end this pandemic when we vaccinate as many people as possible – children, youth, and adults alike. This pediatric vaccine directly protects children, keeping them and those around them safe, and is ultimately another step closer to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and helping us put the pandemic behind us.

More information, including a downloadable fact sheet for parents and caregivers, can be found on Doctors of BC’s What you should know about the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out for children webpage.

You can also visit the BC government site: COVID-19 vaccines for children 5 to 11.