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 once it is available.
Walkthrough of the Mass Immunization Clinic at the CLE Coliseum
Children 5-11
Health Canada has approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine (paediatric dose) for children aged 5-11. In Ontario, those born in 2016 (i.e. turning 5 in 2021) are also eligible.
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).
Second doses can be booked for 8 weeks after the first dose; more details will be available on when and how to make a second dose appointment.
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 of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (30 mcg) 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.
TBDHU is working with community partners across all communities to implement a strategy that will allow parents/caregivers convenient options to vaccinate their children.
For those aged 5-11 (or born in 2016 and turning 5 years old in 2021), 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).
Second doses can be booked for 8 weeks after the first dose; more details will be available on when and how to make a second dose appointment.
City of Thunder Bay and Surrounding Rural Communities
Book an appointment at the TBDHU clinic at the CLE Coliseum Building through the Provincial Booking System. Children aged 5-11 must make an appointment; walk-ins are not available for this age group at this time.
Watch for walk-in pop-up clinic opportunities in various locations across the city; check the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments page for updates.
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 TBRHSCPaediatric Outpatient Department may 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 for information on clinic availability.
Appointments for Children Requiring Accommodations
Accommodations can be made for individuals who are homebound, have anxiety around needles/immunizations, and/or who require a sensory friendly atmosphere.
To request an accommodation, call the TBDHU Ask a Nurse service at (807) 625-5900 (ext. 5108 or press 4 when prompted) or Toll-Free at 1-888-294-6630. This service will help you determine the best option for your child.
District Communities Outside of Thunder Bay
Book an appointment through the Provincial Booking System once appointments are available if you live in Marathon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Rossport or Greenstone; please check back regularly for updates.
Contact your health care provider to learn more about booking an appointment if you live in Manitouwadge, Nipigon, Red Rock or Dorion.
Visit a participating pharmacy for an appointment; more information will be available soon regarding which pharmacies will carry the vaccine for this age group; please check back for updates.
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.
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.
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.
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
Youth 12-15 became eligible on May 5, 2021 to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine for first and second doses. Second doses must be at least 28 days from the first dose.
Individuals turning 12 in 2021 (i.e. born in 2009) are also eligible in Ontario.
For anyone born in 2009 (i.e. turning 12 years old in 2021) and older, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments page for information on how to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
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
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.
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