Babies, toddlers and preschoolers in British Columbia can now get vaccinated against COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the province opened vaccinations for children over six months and under five years old.
For parent Megan Santiago Klassen, it was an opportunity she didn’t hesitate to jump on for her children — the same day it was announced.
“We got here as fast as we could,” she told CBC News outside a Fraser Health vaccine clinic in Abbotsford, British Columbia, after her two young children, Mina and Enes, were immunized on Tuesday. “I feel it’s an important part of keeping our communities safe.”
Her children are just two of more than 200,000 children now eligible for the first of two vaccines.
Only the Spikevax mRNA vaccine, made by the pharmaceutical company Moderna, is approved by Health Canada for children under five.
The dosage allowed for this age group is a quarter of what people over 12 get, and it’s the first of two injections that experts recommend, four weeks apart.
B.C.’s provincial health officer said the vaccine has been shown to be safe for children and that her team looked closely at their safety data before deciding to open up immunizations to younger ages.
“These vaccines have already been extensively tested,” Dr. Bonnie Henry told reporters at an immunization clinic on Tuesday. “We know they work and we know they’re safe.
Children ages 5-11 were approved to be immunized against COVID-19 last fall. On Tuesday, children between the ages of six months and four years were eligible to book an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine in British Columbia (CBC)
Health Canada’s decision two weeks ago came “after a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence,” the federal ministry said in a July 14 statement. “The benefits of this vaccine for children between the ages of six months and five years outweigh the potential risks.”
Experts say that while COVID-19 is known to give children mild symptoms, there are exceptions, and they say it’s important to offer them protection — even if they’ve already contracted the coronavirus during the pandemic.
This not only protects them, but also others who are vulnerable to the virus, explained Marie Tarrant, a professor of nursing at the University of British Columbia and an expert on infant and maternal health, including vaccinations.
“It’s a mild disease in most children, but not all children,” she said. “And there are a lot of kids who end up in the hospital with COVID.”
But reactions among parents seem to be mixed.
A dose of the vaccine, half of what adults receive, was approved for children between 5 and 11 last November.
Since then, 46 percent of British Columbia children in those ages have received both recommended doses — the lowest immunization rate of any age group in the province, according to British Columbia data.
On the shore 6:42 Dr. Brian Conway on COVID-19 vaccines being given to children under 5
Children up to 5 years old can be vaccinated against Covid-19 from today. We hear from Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Center for Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Center for Infectious Diseases, said the newly approved age group has been carefully studied with no significant side effects.
But while the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is low for infants, it is “not zero,” he said.
“In most cases, they don’t get very sick,” he told CBC’s On the Coast on Tuesday. “The risk of prolonged COVID is probably the thing that worries me the most.
“So if you’re two or three years old, it would be a long process and we’d like to avoid that.”
Conway said the next few weeks are especially important for children of all ages, as many return to kindergarten or school early next month.
For those who decide to vaccinate their younger children, parents and guardians can register and book online, the province said. The government’s Get Vaccinated website also offers information and frequently asked questions.
“As a parent or guardian, you want the best for your child,” the government said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “If you need more specific or detailed information or have questions, consult a healthcare provider.”
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