Yukon now offering 1st booster doses for kids 5 to 11 years old, bivalent doses to come for adults
CBC
Children between five to 11 years old can now roll up their sleeves for a first booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Yukon government.
It follows the Health Canada approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty children's booster dose and recommendations from the Yukon's Chief Medical Officer of Health.
During a news conference Thursday, Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee reminded Yukoners that second boosters are available to all Yukoners aged 18 and older.
"Staying up to date on vaccines and getting boosted as soon as you are eligible is your best protection against COVID 19, and the serious outcomes such as hospitalization or even death from the virus," she said.
McPhee added people are eligible for the second booster six months after their first first booster or three months after having had COVID-19.
As well, children who have recently had COVID-19 are not recommended to get a booster until at least three months have passed since symptoms started or testing positive.
During the news conference, McPhee said the Yukon government is asking the federal government for bivalent vaccines, also known as the omicron-specific booster shot.
"The recognition that the North should be properly provided with these vaccines is the message that we are continuing to take to the federal government," she said.
McPhee said she didn't know exactly when those could arrive but said it could be later this month.
"We expect that we will have our share of them but we are continuing to seek higher numbers," she said. "We did expect them a bit sooner than now, but we continue on a daily basis to be in touch to say that we need those as soon as possible so that individuals can have access to them."
According to the federal government's website, 900 doses of the Moderna Spikevax Bivalent were distributed to Yukon as of Thursday. McPhee said those have not yet arrived in the territory.
"We will let Yukoners know when it's available," McPhee said.
McPhee said the Department of Education is focused on a two-year recovery phase that supports learning, mental health and wellness.
She said Yukon public schools are expected to continue to meet students and families "where they are and are during this stage of the recovery."
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