AHS encouraging parents to register children for COVID-19 vaccination
Global News
The provincial health authority is waiting for Pfizer to ship doses before it can open up appointments for COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11.
Alberta Health Services is encouraging parents to register children for their COVID-19 vaccination following Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer shot for kids aged 5 to 11 on Friday.
“Appointments will be available as soon as we receive vaccine supply,” the provincial health authority tweeted Friday morning, following the federal announcement.
In a statement to Global News, Pfizer said it is preparing to ship pediatric doses to Canada, “and they should be arriving at vaccination sites across Canada early next week.”
The vaccine manufacturer expected to distribute all 2.9 million doses by the end of next week.
Pfizer’s clinical trial data showed the vaccine had a 91 per cent efficacy against COVID-19 in children aged 5-11. Of the 3,100 children vaccinated as part of the trials, there were no reports of myocarditis, pericarditis or serious allergic reaction.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization is advising COVID-19 doses to be spread out by eight weeks, and they’re advising a two week pre- and post-vaccination buffer for any other vaccines, to help medical professionals better identify possible adverse events.
According to a frequently asked questions website for parents from AHS, myocarditis and pericarditis in children from an mRNA vaccination like Pfizer’s is an “extremely rare” side effect.