B.C. kids COVID-19 vaccines rolling out this week

Children aged five to 11 in B.C. will be able to start getting their COVID-19 shots this week.

Many families have already signed their kids up online, with registration having opened weeks ago. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children as young as five was approved by Health Canada on Nov. 19.

Parents and caregivers who have registered their kids will begin receiving invitations to book starting Monday, with shots also rolling out for many as early as the same day.

Invitations from the province will be sent out in the same order children were registered.

Protecting the community

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the province has so far seen far fewer cases in schools after children 12 and older began receiving the vaccines. She expects that trend to continue with younger kids rolling up their sleeves.

“What we’ve seen is a steady decrease in the 12-to-17-year-old age group, and children getting sick in that age group. That corresponds with the increasing rates of vaccination in that age group,” she previously said.

“Where we have vaccination of 12 to 17 year olds, there’s been that steady decrease. Where the immunization rates are high, the rates of transmission in children have remained low.”

Dr. Brian Conway, who heads up the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, says with word of a new variant of concern now spreading around the world, vaccinating everyone we can is crucial.

“The identification of the new omicron variant just makes this all the more important. The more vaccinated people there are, the less the virus will transmit — omicron or any other variant included,” said Conway.

“The way the virus gets into the community is through the unvaccinated. And even if that population, that individual is not at significant risk of getting serious disease, they can transmit it to people who are.”

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The mRNA vaccine for children as young as five uses a smaller dosage of the same vaccine used for people 12 and older. Your child is eligible now if they are born after Nov. 29, 2016.

“Children need a smaller dose of the vaccine to get the same protection from COVID-19,” the province’s website reads.

If a parent or guardian has more than one child, they can bring all eligible kids to the same appointment, provided each family member is booked at the same clinic for the same day.

Verbal consent from a parent or legal guardian is required for kids aged five to 11 at the time of vaccination. If an adult is chaperoning a child to their immunizations, written consent from their legal guardian is needed.

Kids will only be considered eligible for a shot if their fifth birthday has passed. The province adds “11-year-olds will receive the pediatric vaccine and when they turn 12 they will receive the adult vaccine.”

Henry has stressed the importance of getting vaccinated, adding children are a key piece of the puzzle in bringing down overall COVID-19 case numbers and transmission.

“And transmission in communities reflects the protection through vaccination, and the fact that vaccination reduces the transmission risk,” B.C.’s top doctor said.

If your child is not signed up yet, parents and guardians can register kids at Get Vaccinated BC to receive an invitation to book a time. The province opened the registration system weeks ago, in order to be ready to deliver the vaccines as soon as they received federal approval.

Where to get vaccinated

Local health authorities will be hosting clinics for children as young as five.

Some small family clinics will also be available to vaccinate children and their direct families who accompany them to their appointment. The province has said it’s trying to strategically set up these special clinics throughout B.C., “where we’re concerned about making sure we reach the five to 11-year-olds and their parents.”

Appointments are required for vaccination, with drop-ins not allowed for the time being.

On-site supports are being made available for children who may be anxious about getting vaccinated or have special needs.

The province has listed a few steps to help get your child ready for their vaccine.

It is recommended people speak with their children before arriving for their appointment, with some resources available to help families talk about what’s going to happen.

You will need to bring your child’s ID and booking confirmation with you to the appointment, and it’s recommended children wear a short-sleeved shirt. Everyone will need to be masked.

Drinking water is encouraged, the province adds, noting fasting is not required.

When you get to the appointment, the province says families can expect to be greeted by a nurse or health-care worker, who will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Second doses of the pediatric shot will, for now, be offered eight weeks or more after the first. Another invitation to book a vaccine appointment will be sent out.

-With files from Greg Bowman