The topic of COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth may bring up a mixture of emotions from parents and caregivers. To some, it is a relief while others may feel afraid or anxious. We understand that these feelings come from a place of love and concern, and we want to help families make decisions they’re comfortable with. Parents always want what’s best for their child.
Please explore the content below to help find reliable information and resources to address any concerns you may have in order to guide you in making this important decision. Additional content will be added to this page as it is available.
Walkthrough of the Immunization Clinic
Children 5-11
Health Canada has approved the use of the Paediatric Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine for children aged 5-11.
Important to Note
- Children turning 5 in 2022 have to wait for their birthday to receive their vaccine.
- Children who receive the COVID-19 paediatric vaccine must wait at least 14 days before or after another vaccine (i.e. flu shot).
- Children who receive the COVID-19 paediatric vaccine for their first dose who turn 12 by the time of their second dose may receive the adolescent/adult formulation to complete their primary series.
- If a child who has turned 12 by the time of their second dose receives the paediatric formulation (10 mcg), their series should still be considered valid and complete.
- For information on when individuals who have had a COVID-19 infection should receive their vaccine, see the Vaccine Facts page.
Second Doses
- For individuals aged 5-11, their second dose appointment should be at least 8 weeks following the first dose.
- The recommendation of an 8 week interval will provide increased and longer-lasting protection from the vaccine and may be associated with a lower risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis. This recommendation is for everyone 5 years of age and older.
Booster Doses
- Booster doses are not available for those aged 5 to 11 at this time.
For those aged 5-11, see the information below on various ways to book a vaccine appointment.
Important to Note
- Children who receive the COVID-19 paediatric vaccine must wait at least 14 days before or after another vaccine (i.e. flu shot, routine immunizations).
- Second doses should be at least 8 weeks following the first dose. The recommendation of an 8 week interval will provide increased and longer-lasting protection from the vaccine and may be associated with a lower risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis. This recommendation is for everyone 5 years of age and older.
- If your child(ren) have anxiety around needles/immunizations, or you think they would benefit from a calmer, quieter, more sensory friendly atmosphere, see the information in the tab below.
City of Thunder Bay and Surrounding Rural Communities
- Get vaccinated at the TBDHU COVID-19 Immunization Clinic.
- Children aged 5-11 needing a first or second dose can make an appointment through the Provincial Booking System or walk-in during the following hours at the CLE Coliseum Building:
- Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Children aged 5-11 needing a first or second dose can make an appointment through the Provincial Booking System or walk-in during the following hours at the CLE Coliseum Building:
- Watch for walk-in pop-up clinic opportunities in various locations across the city; check the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments page for updates.
- Make an appointment at a participating pharmacy.
- Contact your health care provider to determine if they will be administering COVID-19 vaccine and how you can make an appointment. Qualifying children seen at the TBRHSC Paediatric Outpatient Department may be able to access vaccination through the TBRHSC.
Appointments for Indigenous Children
TBDHU is working with Indigenous organizations and health care partners to ensure vaccine access for urban Indigenous people in Thunder Bay. Current opportunities include:
- Thunder Bay Urban Indigenous Vaccination Clinic: Visit the Anishnawbe Mushkiki website or call the clinic at (807) 623-0383 for information on clinic availability.
- Matawa Health Co-operative: Visit the Matawa Health Co-operative website or Facebook page, or call the clinic at (807) 346-2370 for information on clinic availability.
Appointments for Children Requiring Accommodations
- Accommodations can be made for individuals who are homebound, have anxiety around needles/immunizations, who require a sensory friendly atmosphere and/or just need a more private space or longer appointment.
- Details can be found in the tab below.
District Communities Outside of Thunder Bay
- Book an appointment through the Provincial Booking System or walk in to a community clinic. See the District COVID-19 Immunization Clinics page for clinic dates and details.
- Visit a participating pharmacy for an appointment.
- Contact your health care provider to find out if they are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Contact your local TBDHU office or Family Health Team to discuss options for children with needle anxiety or those needing other accommodations to support their immunization experience.
First Nation Communities
- Vaccination opportunities will vary by community. Contact your local community health centre to learn more about any clinics that may be available.
- In conjunction with Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, the Government of Ontario has launched Operation Remote Immunity 3.0 to support the administration of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 in northern and remote First Nation communities, as well as booster doses to eligible populations. This operation will run until March 2022.
Calm and Quiet Sensory Clinic (45 minute appointments)
- This clinic is designed for clients over the age of 5 who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and would benefit from a more calm and quiet clinic setting. This is suitable for clients who may experience severe needle anxiety/phobia (not limited to), who may require an appointment longer in duration.
- These appointments are 45 minutes long. If you or your child prefer an appointment in a private clinic setting but do not require an appointment this long, please contact the Vaccine and Preventable Disease Program at 807-625-5900 ext 5108 to discuss scheduling an appointment in one of the TBDHU routine immunization clinics.
Book a Private Sensory-Friendly Clinic Appointment
**Please note that these clinics are offered at the TBDHU office, located at 999 Balmoral St, NOT at the Coliseum Building on the CLE grounds**
If you or your child is feeling unwell on the morning of your appointment, please contact the Vaccine and Preventable Disease Program at 625-5900 ext 5108 to reschedule.
Appointments for those who are Homebound
Accommodations can also be made for individuals who are homebound. To request this accommodation, call the TBDHU COVID-19 Call Centre at (807) 625-5900 or Toll-Free at 1-888-294-6630.
The following resource provides tips to help you talk to kids about getting vaccinated. It also includes a list of questions with child-friendly responses.
Check out the Child and Parent Vaccination Checklist for ideas on how to prepare together with your child to help everyone have a positive vaccination experience.
The Max the Vax Campaign was created to provide caregivers, and the children they look after, reliable information to make educated decisions about being vaccinated against COVID-19. It was developed by a team of Canadian physicians, scientists, and health care providers to share trusted, evidence-based content about COVID-19 and vaccines.
Safety of COVID-19 Vaccine in 5-11 Year Olds - Public Health Ontario
Although kids tend not to get as sick from COVID-19 as frequently as adults do overall, there have still been instances of serious illness and death among young people from COVID-19. Moreover, youth are currently experiencing the highest case rates among any other demographic in Canada. Risk of serious side-effects from vaccination are far less likely than those that are associated with COVID-19.
Vaccinating kids will not only increase their safety, but it will also reduce the chance that they will pass it onto others who are at higher risk of serious illness. The only way to achieve community (herd) immunity and end this pandemic is to prevent the spread of the virus through every avenue at our disposal. This means vaccinating as many people as possible, including kids.
The risk of serious complications from COVID-19 is far greater the risk of serious side effects.
In rare cases, some teens have experienced inflammation of the heart following vaccination (approximately 182 events per million doses administered for the highest demographic; 24.2 events per million total population). Typically, this condition has been mild, they respond well to treatment and make a full recovery.
Scientists will be watching closely to see if there are concerns about heart inflammation for the 5-11 age group. In the Pfizer trial for this age group, no cases were observed up to three months after second vaccine doses.
When eligible, kids with medical conditions such as autism, ADHD, heart, lung, kidney problems, or any other condition, can safely receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, kids with other medical issues may be at higher risk of complications from COVID-19, so it can be especially important to ensure they are vaccinated.
Children with allergies can also receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If your child has had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine or medical product, or if you have other questions about allergic reactions, speak to your health care provider, or call the SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at (437) 881-3505.
The history of vaccines tells us that severe side-effects are extremely rare and virtually all will happen within 2 months of vaccination, if at all. Unlike medications that are sometimes taken daily for years, vaccines are generally taken in a couple of doses, so there is nothing to build up in your system.
This strong evidence, on top of the fact that there have been BILLIONS of doses of COVID-19 vaccines world-wide, tells that it’s extremely unlikely that we will see anything new in terms of side effects.
Decades of study of mRNA vaccines have shown no long-term side effects. The vaccine teaches your immune system to recognize the virus, and then is broken down within days and leaves the body.
In clinical trials of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine, children were monitored for at least 2 months after the second dose. No children in the trials suffered any major side effects and there is nothing to suggest that we will see any effects that have not presented thus far.
- CARD System Handout: Coping with Pain and Fear around Vaccination for Teens - SickKids
- Needle Pokes: Reducing pain with comfort positions and distraction - SickKids
- Improving the Vaccination Experience - Using Numbing Cream to Reduce Pain - SickKids
- Improving the Vaccination Experience - Comfort Positions - SickKids
- The CARD™ Toolkit for Educators, Parents, and Healthcare Professionals - Anxiety Canada
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Youth Fact Sheet (Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about vaccines for children (aged five to 11) and youth (aged 12-17).) - Ontario Ministry of Health
- The Safety and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines for Youth - Ontario Ministry of Health
- What you need to know about your COVID-19 vaccine appointment - Ontario Ministry of Health
- COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A Videos with Ontario's Medical Professionals (Kids 5-11) - Ontario Ministry of Health
- ParentHomework.ca: Information on COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids - Children's Health Coalition
- The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children and youth - Ontario Ministry of Health
- Affiche: Vaccins contre la COVID-19 pour les enfants et les jeunes
- Paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions - Ontario Ministry of Health Backgrounder
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Youth - Ontario Ministry of Health
- Ask the MOH Video - TBDHU
- Trusted Information from the Children's COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Table - Kids Health First
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Youth - Ontario Ministry of Health
- Recommendations on the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (10 mcg) in children 5-11 years of age - National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
Youth 12-17
- Youth 12-17 are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines for first and second doses.
- Second doses should be at least 8 weeks (56 days) from the first dose.
- The recommendation of an 8 week interval will provide increased and longer-lasting protection from the vaccine and may be associated with a lower risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis. This recommendation is for everyone 5 years of age and older.
- For information on when individuals who have had a COVID-19 infection should receive their vaccine, see the Vaccine Facts page.
- Children who receive the COVID-19 paediatric vaccine for their first dose who turn 12 by the time of their second dose may receive the adolescent/adult formulation to complete their primary series.
- If a child who has turned 12 by the time of their second dose receives the paediatric formulation (10 mcg), their series should still be considered valid and complete.
- Youth 12-17 are eligible to receive a first booster dose.
- Booster doses should be at least 168 days (6 months) from the second dose.
- This six month interval applies to all youth in this age group, including those who were previously eligible between the ages of 16 and 17 (i.e. Indigenous youth and youth who worked in health care settings, e.g. long-term care).
- With informed consent after a discussion with a health care provider, individuals 12-17 years of age may receive an earlier booster dose.
- Based on guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, other vaccines, including live or non-live vaccines for anyone age 12 and over. This means that there is no waiting period required between the COVID-19 vaccine and other routine immunizations, such as those received in grade 7, 8 or high school.
- Please refer to the NACI Guidance on the use of booster COVID-19 vaccine doses in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age for additional information.
- For information on when individuals who have had a COVID-19 infection should receive their vaccine, see the Vaccine Facts page.
For anyone 12 years of age and older, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments page for information on how to get a COVID-19 vaccine, including walk-in hours at the CLE Coliseum Clinic.
Appointments for Those Requiring Accommodations
- Accommodations can be made for individuals who are homebound, have anxiety around needles/immunizations, who require a sensory friendly atmosphere and/or just need a more private space or longer appointment.
- Details can be found in the tab below.
Calm and Quiet Sensory Clinic (45 minute appointments)
- This clinic is designed for clients over the age of 5 who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and would benefit from a more calm and quiet clinic setting. This is suitable for clients who may experience severe needle anxiety/phobia (not limited to), who may require an appointment longer in duration.
- These appointments are 45 minutes long. If you or your child prefer an appointment in a private clinic setting but do not require an appointment this long, please contact the Vaccine and Preventable Disease Program at 807-625-5900 ext 5108 to discuss scheduling an appointment in one of the TBDHU routine immunization clinics.
Book a Private Sensory-Friendly Clinic Appointment
**Please note that these clinics are offered at the TBDHU office, located at 999 Balmoral St, NOT at the Coliseum Building on the CLE grounds**
If you or your child is feeling unwell on the morning of your appointment, please contact the Vaccine and Preventable Disease Program at 625-5900 ext 5108 to reschedule.
Appointments for those who are Homebound
Accommodations can also be made for individuals who are homebound. To request this accommodation, call the TBDHU COVID-19 Call Centre at (807) 625-5900 or Toll-Free at 1-888-294-6630.
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Youth Fact Sheet (Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about vaccines for children (aged five to 11) and youth (aged 12-17).) - Ontario Ministry of Health
- Child and Youth COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (10 things to know about the COVID-19 vaccination for children and youth aged 12 to 17) - Ontario Ministry of Health
- The Safety and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines for Youth - Ontario Ministry of Health
- COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet (12+) - Ontario Ministry of Health
- What you need to know about your COVID-19 vaccine appointment - Ontario Ministry of Health
- COVID-19 Vaccines for Youth - Ontario Ministry of Health
- Ask the MOH Video - TBDHU
- Trusted Information from the Children's COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Table - Kids Health First
Consent
In Ontario, there is no stipulated age of consent for medical treatment, and the Health Care Consent Act presumes all people, including minors, are capable of making health treatment decisions unless proven otherwise.
Ontario uses a capacity-based consent model. A person is capable of consenting to treatment if they can understand the information that is relevant to making the decision and are able to appreciate the consequences of the decision.
Where a child is found by a health practitioner to be incapable of consenting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a proxy decision-maker, such as a parent or legal guardian, may consent on their behalf.
The consent process for the 5-11 age cohort follows the same process used for the COVID-19 vaccination program to date. However, the 5-11 age cohort will not have the same capacity to consent for themselves as older cohorts and will require parental or proxy decision-maker consent before receiving the vaccine in most cases.
Where a proxy decision-maker provides consent for the COVID-19 vaccine to be provided to an individual that decision-maker may also consent to the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information related to the individual where the collection, use and disclosure is a necessary part of the treatment.
You or your child should receive information prior to vaccination that explains the benefits, risks, possible side effects, information on further doses, and other important information to ensure informed consent.
Talk to a Clinician
Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines? This is understandable as there is a lot of information out there and it can be challenging to navigate it all. Thankfully, there are free services available that can provide one-on-one help.
Call (807) 625-5900 (ext. 5108 or press 4 when prompted) to speak to a nurse between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday or email vaccines@tbdhu.com.
Contact Ask-a-Nurse if you:
- Have a question about the safety or effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and can’t find credible information elsewhere.
- Are someone who has been immunized in another province/country and have questions about recording vaccines in Ontario or if you qualify as fully vaccinated.
- Have a child with unique circumstances and would like to discuss options for accommodating your child’s vaccine appointment.
The SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service is a by-appointment phone service that provides a safe, judgement-free space to have an open conversation about the COVID-19 vaccine for children and youth. Over the phone interpretation is available for free in many languages.
Make an appointment to:
- Talk to a knowledgeable SickKids clinician.
- Have a confidential phone appointment.
- Make an informed decision.
Book an appointment online or call toll-free at 1-888-304-6558.
If you still have questions or concerns, please talk to your child's health care provider or use one of the free consultation services to speak to a clinician.