Children ages 6 months - 11 years
COVID-19 vaccination for children 6 months to under 5 years *NEW
On July 14, 2022, Health Canada approved the use of the pediatric Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to under 5 years. Vaccines that have been approved by Health Canada have all received a thorough and independent scientific review of the research, and have been determined safe and effective for this age group. Learn more about Health Canada's approval of vaccines for children ages 6 months to under 5 years.
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.
Not all children have only mild symptoms when they are sick with COVID-19. Being vaccinated can help make the symptoms milder if your child does become infected with COVID-19, and prevent potential transmission to others. Vaccination is the best and safest way to give an extra layer of protection for all children, including those aged six months to under five years.
For optimal and longest lasting protection, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that children aged 6 months to under 5 years receive two doses, at least 8 weeks apart. For more information, please speak to your health care provider or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
COVID-19 vaccination for ages 5-11
The pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for youth aged five to 11 in Canada. Vaccines that have been approved by Health Canada have all received a thorough and independent scientific review of the research, and have been determined safe and effective for this age group. It is important for your child to receive both doses of vaccine 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 to receive the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine.
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 available at HPPH community vaccination clinics for children, youth, and adults 5 years of age and older. The pediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old will be available at these clinics. Both booked appointments and walk-in opportunities are available. Appointments are now also available for children 6 months to under 5 years of age at specific HPPH clinics for this age group only. Children must be at least 6 months of age to under 5 years on the day of their appointment. HPPH will only offer the pediatric Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at these clinics. Visit our Get a vaccination page to book an appointment or learn about walk-in opportunities. At this time, there are no walk-in opportunities available for children 6 months to under 5 years. |
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. For more resources and strategies specific to children under three years of age, see: Needle Pain and Anxiety Management for Vaccination Under 5. See the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth web page 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 to a later date.
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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 children 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 (e.g., grandparents, babies, or people with immunocompromising health conditions). 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, and vaccination can help prevent hospitalization and further spread of COVID-19 in our community. |
How are vaccines approved? |
Health Canada has approved both COVID-19 vaccines for use among children ages 5 to 11 (pediatric Pfizer vaccine) and children 6 months to under 5 years of age (pediatric Moderna Spikevax vaccine). Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada collaborate with NACI for evidence-based vaccine recommendations, review scientific literature on burden of disease, vaccine characteristics and product monographs. This means that they have determined that these vaccines are safe, effective and manufactured to the highest quality. See COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Process and Safety for more information. 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 6 months and older will need two doses. Children ages 6 months and older should receive a second dose at least 8 weeks apart for optimal and longest lasting protection.
However, the authorized interval for children ages 6 months to under 5 years (28 days) and children ages 5 to 11 years (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, who can I talk to? |
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 informed 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 6 month to 11 year olds [PDF]
Max Facts for Youth: learn about the COVID-19 vaccine for 6 month to 11 year olds [PDF]