Children ages 5-11
COVID-19 vaccination for children 5 to 11 years old has been approved
Updated: January 14, 2022
Health Canada has approved the use of a pediatric Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11. Learn more about Health Canada's approval of vaccines for youth ages 5-11.
COVID-19 vaccination for ages 5-11
Vaccines are the most effective tool we have to protect ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19. Vaccines protect us by helping our body build immunity and decreasing our chance of spreading it to others. We have seen the positive effects vaccination has had against COVID-19 in the fight against this pandemic.
The pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for youth aged five to 11 in Canada. It is safe and effective for this age group. It is important for your child to get fully vaccinated to have the best protection against COVID-19. Children must be five years of age or older on the day of their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
It is recommended that children 5 to 11 receive two doses, 8 weeks apart for optimal and longest lasting protection. As per NACI guidance, a longer interval between dose one and two appears to provide optimal protection and may reduce the risk of myocarditis/pericarditis after the second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. However, the authorized interval (e.g. greater than 21 days) may still be used with informed parental consent.
Read the joint letter from Huron Perth Primary Care Providers for more information and answers to common questions about vaccinations for kids five to 11 years old.
Booking your appointment |
Appointments are now available for children ages 5 to 11 at HPPH clinics. Visit our Vaccine Booking page to book an appointment. Clinics are available for anyone eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine, including those aged 5 to 11. All clinics will offer a family-friendly environment. Each vaccinator station will have distraction tools available, and you/your child(ren) will have the option to be vaccinated in a semi-private tent. We also recommend parents/caregivers bring something along to help their child relax during their appointment, such as headphones and music, a toy, or a fidget. |
Preparing your child to get vaccinated |
For information on HPPH COVID-19 vaccine clinics, how to prepare, and what to expect when you arrive at a clinic, see our Preparing for your appointment page. Being nervous about needles is common. If your child is anxious about receiving a needle, or they have fainted or become dizzy with immunizations before, please let the vaccinator at the clinic know. We want everyone to feel comfortable and safe. Talking to your children about vaccinations can help to reduce anxiety they may have about getting needles. The CARD System You can use the CARD (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) System [PDF] to come up with ideas and a plan to help relax before and during a vaccination. Talking about vaccines with your child now can help prepare them for when a COVID-19 vaccine is available to them.
To access the CARD system resources in French, visit the AboutKidsHealth webpage. See the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet for Children (age 5-11) for more information and make sure all of your questions have been answered by a health care provider before your child gets the vaccine. |
What to bring to your appointment |
Please do not come to the clinic if you or your child have COVID-19 symptoms or are sick, have been told to isolate, or are waiting for COVID-19 test results. Please reschedule your appointment.
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Before receiving the vaccine, tell your child's vaccinator |
Before your child receives the COVID-19 vaccine, tell the vaccinator at the clinic if your child:
Please do not come to the clinic if your child is currently feeling sick or has any signs and symptoms of COVID-19. |
After vaccination |
The side effects after receiving a vaccination are different for every person, and most are mild. Some mild side effects may occur after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, including: pain, swelling or redness at the injection site, tiredness, muscle soreness, mild fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain, or headache. These side effects are normal signs that the body is building protection, and generally clear up within 1 to 3 days. Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to the vaccine are rare and can be treated. Your child will be monitored at the clinic for 15 minutes after receiving their vaccination. Get medical help immediately if your child has serious drowsiness, seizures/convulsions, trouble breathing, or develops hives or swelling in their face or throat, chest pain, shortness of breath and/or palpitations (pounding or racing heart), or feelings of an abnormal heart rhythm. If your child has a high fever (over 40°C or 104°F) or side effects that are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days, contact your child's health care provider or seek medical attention right away. |
Frequently asked questions
Why should youth get vaccinated? |
Vaccines are the best protection we have against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination protects us and our kids from severe illness, by helping our body build immunity. Most young people who contract COVID-19 have mild symptoms or none at all. However, some children with COVID-19 can get very sick, and others may experience more serious, longer-lasting symptoms that effect their health. We are still learning about this, what is being referred to as "long-COVID." Children can also spread COVID-19 to others, even if they have no symptoms or mild symptoms. By vaccinating youth, we can help protect their health as well as the health of other people who may be vulnerable to severe illness. The more people who are vaccinated in our community, the better chance we have to reduce spread and keep our schools, daycares, businesses, and recreational activities open. We have seen an increase in cases among this age group over the past three months, and vaccination can help prevent further spread of COVID-19 in our community. |
How are vaccines approved? |
The vaccine has been approved by Health Canada, which means that they have determined that this vaccine is safe, effective and manufactured to the highest quality. Health Canada only authorizes the use of a vaccine if the independent and thorough scientific review of all the data show that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed any of the potential risks. Learn more about Health Canada's Vaccines for children: COVID-19. |
What are the vaccine ingredients? |
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What are the side effects? |
Just like adults, youth may experience temporary side effects. The side effects after receiving a vaccination are different for every person, and most are mild. Common side effects are sore arm, tiredness, headache, achy muscles or joints, and fever and chills. These side effects generally clear up within 1 to 3 days. They are also a positive sign that the vaccine is beginning to work. |
Are there potential long-term effects? |
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How many doses does my child need? How far apart are the doses? |
Similar to individuals 12 and older, children ages 5-11 will need two doses. Children ages 5-11 should receive a second dose at 8 weeks apart for optimal and longest lasting protection.
However, the authorized interval (e.g. greater than 21 days) may still be used with informed parental consent. |
Can my child receive another vaccine, like the flu shot, around the same time? |
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My child is 11 years old. Should they wait until they are 12 to get an adult dose of vaccine? |
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Will the vaccine affect my child's future fertility? |
There is no evidence and no theoretic reason to suspect that the COVID-19 vaccine could impair male or female fertility. In response to the online rumours suggesting that COVID-19 vaccination may affect future fertility, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) released the following statement:
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I still have questions about the vaccines |
Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about any questions you might have. The following service is also available:
Additional information about COVID-19 vaccinations for kids can also be found by visiting the Kids Health First webpage, or on the Province’s webpage COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth. |
Vaccine safety information
The Max the Vax Campaign has been created to provide caregivers, and the children they look after, reliable information to make educated decisions about being vaccinated against COVID-19. It has been developed by a team of Canadian physicians, scientists and health care providers to share trusted, evidence-based content about COVID-19 and vaccines.
Max Facts for Caregivers: learn about the COVID-19 Vaccine for 5 to 11 year olds [PDF]
Max Facts for Youth: learn about the COVID-19 vaccine for 5 to 11 year olds [PDF]