Windsor-Essex Children Aged 5 To 11 Eligible For A COVID-19 Vaccine Starting Thursday

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Appointment slots at the Devonshire Mall mass vaccination clinic are now available with the first appointments taking place this Thursday morning for children 5 to 11 years eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, the region’s Medical Officer of Health says that expanding access to the vaccine for this younger age group will help the community to take the next step in its battle against COVID-19.

“In the past month alone, Windsor-Essex County has had 96 school cohort dismissals and 136 infections in school-aged children. Vaccination for this 5-11 age group is an integral part of the strategy to reduce the burden of disease on the community and will directly impact the potential for students to remain in school for in-person learning, and further limit the opportunity for this virus to spread.”

Health Unit officials do acknowledg that there may be some apprehension amongst parents in getting their children vaccinated and strongly encourages anyone who has questions to seek help from reliable sources, like the health unit’s website or a healthcare provider.

“With the rigorous testing and approval processes required, parents have nothing to worry about. Any vaccine or medication has the potential for side-effects, however serious side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, such as allergic reactions, are extremely rare and can be treated,” said Health Unit Chief Executive Officer, Nicole Dupuis.

The health unit has added a new section to their website with further information and resources for young people and their parents to learn more about the vaccine, potential side effects, and a link to a free COVID-19 Vaccine Consult service from Sick Kids Hospital where parents can speak to a trained pediatric nurse in order to have their questions answered by a trusted professional.

Appointments are available now and can be booked by following the links on the health unit’s website or by calling 226-773-2200. Those children who are newly eligible must be accompanied by their custodial parent or guardian to receive a vaccine and will be required to present a health card or other form of identification. In addition to the mass vaccination clinic, all eligible groups are encouraged to contact participating pharmacies, healthcare providers, or to drop in to one of the community pop-up vaccination clinics to get their vaccine.