There are approximately 200,000 children aged six months to four years in British Columbia who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Island Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Mike Benusic were present to witness one of the first pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations of a child between the ages of six months and four years as the province expanded its COVID-19 immunization program for the youngest cohort on Tuesday.
The two were at the Quadra Village Community Centre’s kid-friendly vaccination clinic, where children are provided with distractions such as coloring sheets, puzzles, stickers and a private room to reduce some of the stress and anxiety of getting vaccinated.
Under the glare of media cameras, three-and-a-half-year-old Ellie Litke sat on her mother’s lap and received her first 25-microgram dose of the Moderna Spikevax mRNA vaccine.
“I’m so excited for Ellie to get her shot because we have asthma in our family,” said Danielle Littke, Ellie’s mother.
A pediatric dose of 25 micrograms, a quarter of the volume of an adult dose, gives children a similar level of protection against serious disease. Like the adult vaccine, a second dose is recommended eight weeks after the first.
“I’m excited and relieved that we now have a vaccine for children in this age group,” Henry said. “This is an opportunity to give them the protection they need. It is extremely important that you start thinking about registering now to get the vaccine at clinics across the province. The vaccine has been extensively tested and is safe. I encourage parents and guardians to talk to their doctors, nurses and other health professionals about the vaccine.
There are approximately 200,000 children in the age group of six months to four years in British Columbia who are eligible for the vaccine.
As of July 25, nearly 2,200 requests have already been received by Island Health.
Vaccines are free and children do not need a BC card to receive a vaccine. The vaccine will mostly be available by appointment at specialist clinics, but may be available at some walk-in clinics. It will not be available in pharmacies.
Young children who are moderately to severely immunocompromised may receive their second dose four to eight weeks after the first and be invited for a third dose four weeks after the second.
Parents and guardians can register their child for vaccination in the provincial Get Vaccinated system (online at getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca) — the same system used for adults. Once registered, parents and guardians will receive an invitation to make an appointment via text message, email or phone.
Children who have had COVID-19 can receive the vaccine eight weeks after symptoms start or when they first test positive for the virus.
Henry suggests that signing up a child for a COVID-19 vaccine is a good time for parents to make sure their child is up to date on other vaccines, such as the flu shot.
For more information, visit www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/young-children. Or call 1-833-838-2323. Phone support is available in approximately 140 languages.
parrais@timescolonist.com
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