A group of children in Toronto were the first in Canada to receive a dose of the recently approved Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, local officials say.
In a news release, City of Toronto officials said 10 vaccines were being provided Tuesday “ahead of a limited number of youth vaccination appointments on Wednesday and a large number of vaccinations on Thursday.”
Children at The Hospital for Sick Children attended a clinic to be vaccinated, the statement said.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott, Toronto Mayor John Tory, Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa, and SickKids hospital CEO Ronald Cohen were on hand to witness the milestone.
“This is a fantastic day today here in Ontario to have the first children aged 5 to 11 vaccinated — the first children in Canada. And I can tell you that they were all very happy and very brave to be vaccinated,” Elliott said.
“They really truly were superheroes coming forward to receive the vaccination and knowing that they’re protecting not only themselves, but their friends, their grandparents, their parents and their community.”
Tory also thanked the children and their families for coming out to the clinic. He said the campaign to immunize kids is going to be a success, with tens of thousands of appointments already being booked at City clinics.
Last week, Health Canada approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged five to 11.
The first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines for children arrived in Canada on Sunday.
In Ontario, bookings for immunizations opened on Tuesday morning with most appointments beginning Thursday.