COVID-19 vaccine bookings for babies and toddlers open in Ontario

Ontario parents can now book COVID-19 vaccine appointments for their babies and preschoolers.

The province’s booking portal opened for pediatric vaccine appointments for children aged six months to under five years at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Families can also make appointments through health units using their own booking systems as well as some primary care providers and pharmacies.

Clinics for the youngest age group are scheduled to ramp up across the province in the coming days and some are planning to host appointments today.

Toronto clinics ready to offer pediatric COVID-19

The City of Toronto says its immunization clinics are prepared to administer the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for infants six months to under five years old starting Thursday morning.

Officials say a “needs-based, data-driven, equity-focused vaccination campaign” will commence at its clinics as of 8 a.m..

Vaccines for children ages six months to under five years will be offered at five City of Toronto-run immunization clinics.

They include Crossroads Plaza, Cloverdale Mall, Mitchell Field Community Centre, Thorncliffe Park Community Hub and 1940 Eglinton Avenue East.

“The seventh wave of COVID-19 is in our community and is impacting residents, including the youngest in our city,” said Toronto’s medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa.

“Parents have been doing their best to keep their young ones safe, and now they will have the benefit of this safe and effective vaccine to protect their children.”

A spokesperson said that city-run immunization clinics have approximately 2,000 appointments for children ages six months to under five years available during the next two weeks. More appointments will be added in the weeks that follow.

Immunocompromised youth aged 12 to 17 will also be able to schedule second booster doses on Thursday if six months have passed since their first booster dose or fourth shot.

Moderna offers highly effective protection for young children: Health Minister

Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the lower-dose Moderna shot would protect young family members against COVID-19.

Last week, Jones encouraged parents with questions to reach out to healthcare providers, the provincial vaccine contact centre or a consultation service offered by SickKids hospital.

Health Canada announced last week that it had approved Moderna’s two-dose pediatric vaccine for young children. The vaccine can be administered in doses one-quarter the size approved for adults, Canada’s drug regulator said.

In this file photo dated Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, three vials of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are pictured in a new coronavirus vaccination center. Photo: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

A spokesman for Jones said the minimum interval between shots is 28 days. However, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends waiting eight weeks between doses based on evidence suggesting a more robust immune response and more effective protection with a longer interval.

Stephen Warner said the Ministry of Health guidance is that anyone six months or older with recent COVID-19 infections should wait eight weeks after first having symptoms or a positive test, provided they are not immunocompromised and don’t have a history of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

In November, Ontario opened vaccine bookings four days after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for kids ages five to 11.

With files from Holly McKenzie-Sutter of The Canadian Press