Manitoba is prepared for when Health Canada gives approval to the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine and the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations gives its recommendations on how to use the vaccine.
Health Canada is currently reviewing Pfizer-BioNtech’s vaccine for kids aged 5-11 as well as Moderna’s vaccine for the 6-11 age group. It’s anticipated Health Canada will approve Pfizer-BioNtech’s child vaccine in the next week or two.
Manitoba Health Minister Audrey Gordon says they could start administering the vaccine as early as a week after approval of Pfizer-BioNtech’s child vaccine.
“At that point, the vaccine would be offered through provincial and regional vaccine clinics, physicians’ offices, pharmacies, urban Indigenous clinics and pop-up community clinics,” Gordon said. “Walk-ins would also be an option at some locations and in schools, vaccinations would be offered both during and after school hours.”
Gordon also says to increase accessibility of the vaccine, a policy change has been made to allow pharmacists to immunize all children in the 5-11 age group against COVID-19 and influenza, when the vaccine is approved.
Gordon says previously, pharmacists could only vaccinate children ages seven or older.
In a news release, the province is expected to receive enough supply of the vaccine from Pfizer to allow all children ages five to 11 to get their first dose. The dosage for this age group would be one-third of the Pfizer vaccine already available. The province adds parents and caregivers will be able to make appointments once the vaccine is approved and arrives in Manitoba, will provide further information once appointments can be booked.
Meantime, in a separate news conference prior to this announcement, Manitoba Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin was asked if kids aged 5-11 would be required to show proof of vaccination at places that require them, after Health Canada approves the kid vaccines.
“Certainly right now that’s not in the plans,” Roussin replied. “We are still planning on having the under-12 still exempt as long as they’re entering with somebody who is fully-vaccinated.”
The announcement of Manitoba’s preparations for the next step in its vaccination campaign comes as provincial stats from November 16 show:
- to date, there have been 6,091 COVID-19 cases in Manitoba;
- in the 2021-22 school year, 13 school outbreaks have resulted in a move to remote learning;
- 27 children have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and seven of these children were admitted to the intensive care unit;
- and one child has died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
The province also estimates approximately 125,000 children ages five to 11 live in Manitoba.
