B.C. set to roll out child vaccines next week

VICTORIA - British Columbia's COVID-19 immunization program for children between the ages of five and 11 will start next week.

Join Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer and Dr. Penny Ballem, executive lead of the B.C. immunization rollout team, for an update on COVID-19. #CovidBC https://t.co/KDTslBEOG8

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) November 23, 2021

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says up to 350,000 children will be eligible for the vaccine and more than 90,000 kids are already registered.

Beginning Nov. 29, children aged 5 to 11 can get a COVID-19 pediatric vaccine in BC. Parents can expect:

✅ clinics to be child-friendly
✅ staff specially trained in paediatric vaccinations
✅ clinics open after school and in the evenings

Learn more: https://t.co/fSivtFc5Fn pic.twitter.com/tqfK6e7QKc

— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) November 23, 2021

She says Health Canada has approved the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in Canada after an independent scientific review confirmed the first vaccine formulated for younger children is safe and works.

Henry says the vaccination of children is important to protect them from COVID-19, which continues to spread, especially with a fourth wave that is affecting children.

She says health-care providers trained and experienced in administering childhood vaccines will be staffing clinics across B.C.

Henry says appointment invitations to families with young children registered to receive vaccines will start Monday, with vaccinations to begin almost immediately.