Toronto extending mass clinic hours to help vaccinate kids 5-11

Health Canada has just approved the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. One doctor says while this is good news, it's okay for parents to have questions. Maleeha Sheikh speaks to the infectious disease specialist as well as parents and children.

By Michael Ranger

Posted November 19, 2021 3:31 pm.

Last Updated November 20, 2021 10:04 pm.

The City of Toronto is ready to get five to 11-year-olds vaccinated now that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for children in that age group.

In preparation for the anticipated arrival of child doses, the city will open thousands of appointments for kids next week.

Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch says the approval of a vaccine for younger children is a huge step in the fight against COVID-19.

“It’s a really big deal,” said Bogoch. ‘When we look at whose getting infected now in Canada, the five to 11 cohort is actually pretty high. They are one of the highest age cohorts for infection right now.”

The city says approximately 20,000 appointment bookings for all Toronto children in that age group will open between Nov. 25 and Dec. 5, the city is also extending hours at city run clinics. (see below)

School clinics are also being set up and the city says they may start administering doses as quickly as next week, depending on the arrival of the vaccine. The city says information on school clinics will be coming from the schools themselves.

Kids will also be able to get a vaccine at any Toronto hospitals, pharmacies or family physicians that are offering the shot.

Bogoch says it is okay for parents to have some concerns about vaccinating their children, but urges them to look at the data and follow NACI’s recommendations.

“Obviously every parent has to make an individual decision and everyone wants to do what’s best for their kid,” he said. “But I think if we take a step back and look at the 30,000 foot view, I think the benefits far outweigh the risks of this vaccine.”

Mayor John Tory says the city is focused on keeping the rollout fun for the younger cohort.

“We are going to make it as fun as we can for kids, because we know a lot of kids don’t like being around doctors offices necessarily,” said Tory. “We’re going to superheroes and tell these kids they’re superheroes for getting vaccinated.”

Canada is expecting an accelerated delivery of 2.9 million child-sized doses of the vaccine now that it has been approved — enough for a first dose for every child in the five to 11 age group.

While Health Canada authorized a two-dose regimen of 10 micrograms of the vaccine three weeks apart, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has suggested that two doses may be offered to children between five and 11 years of age, with at least eight weeks between doses.

Health Canada is still reviewing Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for children aged six to 11 years of age.

Appointments can be made through the provincial booking system.

The new bookings in Toronto that open on Nov. 25 are for appointments at: