Ottawa children and babies now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine
Thousands of parents and guardians booked a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for their children in Ottawa, as Ontario expanded eligibility for the vaccine to babies and preschoolers.
As of Thursday, children aged six months to under five years old will be eligible to receive Moderna's Spikevax mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
Ottawa Public Health says 3,823 COVID-19 vaccination appointments for children were booked between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
"Appointments continue to be available, and more appointments will be released in the coming days," OPH said Thursday afternoon.
Parents and guardians can book an appointment through the COVID-19 vaccination portal, participating primary care providers and paediatricians, as well as at participating pharmacies and Indigenous-led vaccination clinics. You can also call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
Medical officer of health Dr. Vera Etches says she understands parents have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for their children.
"For the COVID-19 vaccine, this is newer but it is the same type of vaccine that older children; children 5 to 11, children 11 and above have had, it's just a smaller dose," Etches told Newstalk 580 CFRA's The Morning Rush on Wednesday.
Etches says studies have found "very similar kinds of patterns" to reactions from children under the age of five and children between the ages of 5 and 11.
"So the most common things would be a sore arm, feeling fatigued or irritable after the vaccine," Etches said.
The COVID-19 vaccine for children will be administered in two doses, eight weeks apart.
"Children under five have been the only major population group without the protection offered from vaccination, leaving many parents worried about their children and the effects of a potential COVID-19 infection, including for people at higher risk around them," public health said in a statement.
"Having a vaccine for this age group is a vital step in protecting many more children during this resurgence of COVID-19 in our community and ahead of the school year."
Ottawa Public Health is working with partners to expand its current COVID-19 clinics to offer additional options for children and their families.
According to the OPH website, there are two COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children aged six months to under 5 years open as of today:
- Mary Pitt Centre – 100 Constellation Drive (Tuesday to Thursday 12:45 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 9:45 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.
- Orleans Client Service Centre – 255 Centrum Blvd. (Tuesday to Thursday 12:45 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 9:45 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.)
Public health says smaller family-friendly vaccination clinics are also planned for the Walter Baker Sports Centre, the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park and the Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre.
Dr. Etches says the COVID-19 vaccination clinics for young children will be a quieter setting, with nurses specifically trained to deal with young patients. The Kids Come First Clinic at CHEO is also offering vaccines.
AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS
Ottawa Public Health expects one quarter of the eligible child population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine over the next couple of weeks.
"OPH will have enough appointments available to vaccinate one quarter of the eligible population over the next couple of weeks and will add more based on demand," OPH said.
The health unit says new clinics and more appointments will be added to meet demand and as more vaccine is received from the Ontario government.
"Currently, there is no concern regarding planned vaccine supply," the health unit said. "Vaccines are redistributed by OPH to its community vaccination clinics, to primary care providers who request them and to pharmacies."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.