Saskatchewan children ages five to 11 will officially be eligible to receive their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine starting on Aug. 31.
As kids return to school this week, there have been many families concerned about the health and safety of kids heading back to crowded classrooms.
“Receiving this booster dose is especially important for children at higher risk of serious COVID-19 illnesses due to immunosuppression or other chronic health conditions,” provincial chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said.
“I encourage parents of all school-age children to ensure those children have completed their primary series of a first and second dose and consider the booster dose.”
Shahab also reiterated the effectiveness of the vaccine in children, especially with school coming up at a press conference on Tuesday.
“In the 9 months now that the vaccine has been offered to children 5-11, again like vaccination in older age groups, its very safe, very effective, so getting vaccinated will help as we enter into the fall,” he said.
Starting Wednesday:
- Parents and guardians of all children five to 11 years will be able to book appointments at Saskatchewan Health Authority clinics online at saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine or by calling 1-833-Sask-VAX (1-833-727-5829) seven days a week, 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. There may be walk-in clinic opportunities near you.
- Participating pharmacies can be found at saskatchewan.ca/covid-19.
- Indigenous Services Canada and Northern Inter-Tribal Authority will be operating vaccination clinics in First Nation and Métis communities.
It is recommended those aged five to 11 receive this booster at least four months following their second dose.
Dr. Brady Bouchard, a family physician in North Battleford, Sask. and the president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada says the COVID-19 booster is crucial in limiting spread amongst children and families as school begins.
“I would expect with kids going back to school this fall that we’ll see some increased impact again and I can’t reiterate enough how tenuous our current health care’s system’s resources are at the moment, we’re at the limit, we’re beyond the limit and anything anybody can do, including masking and vaccination, is something that can help our province,” Bouchard said.
According to the province’s most recent COVID-19 report, the number of Saskatchewan children aged five to 11 years old who have received two doses of the vaccine is just over 40 per cent.
Currently, Pfizer is the only vaccine approved by Health Canada for this age group as a booster at this time.
The province said immunocompromised children aged five to 11 years may have already received their third dose, and may now receive an additional dose four months after their third dose.
For any children receiving the vaccine, a parent or legal guardian must be present to provide verbal, informed consent. If the parent chooses an adult designate (e.g. grandparent, aunt) to accompany the child for a vaccine, a consent form signed by the parent/guardian must be presented.
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