Ontario's youngest children will be able to get added protection against COVID-19 starting next week.
The provincial government has announced it will open booking for COVID-19 vaccine appointments for children between the ages of six months and five years as of 8 a.m. July 28.
Appointments can be made through Ontario's online booking portal, local public health units with their own booking system, participating primary care providers, and paediatricians.
Children in this age bracket will be given the paediatric Moderna COVID-19 vaccine which is a slightly modified, lower dose than that given to kids six and up. It will be administered in a two-dose series at a recommended interval of eight weeks between the first and second doses.
Health Canada approved the Moderna Spikevax shot for children six months to five-years-old on July 14.
“The approval of a lower dose paediatric Moderna vaccine will give families the opportunity to provide an additional layer of protection against COVID-19 for the youngest members of their families,” Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said in a statement. “Getting vaccinated remains the best defence against COVID-19 and I encourage parents with questions to reach out to their health care provider, the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre or the SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service to make an informed choice for their family.”
Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore is reassuring hesitant parents that the paediatric COVID-19 vaccine is safe and will help to lower the rate of infection throughout the province.
"Although most children who get infected have no symptoms or mild symptoms, some can become very sick and require hospitalization. The vaccine offered to children aged six months to under five years is a lower dose that is safe and effective at protecting this age group from COVID-19," said Moore. "Even if a child has already had COVID-19, vaccination will help to further improve the immune response and provide more robust protection. I encourage every parent and caregiver to consider getting their younger children vaccinated and protected, especially if they are immunocompromised or have other serious medical conditions."
Parents or guardians of children five and under will have to provide their consent on behalf of their little one before or at the appointment.
Over the next week, the province will be working to distribute its supply of the paediatric vaccine across Ontario, the government said.
In addition to opening appointment bookings for infants and small children, Ontario is expanding second booster eligibility for immunocompromised youth aged 12 to 17. Teens in this group will be able to get their fourth shot, as long as it has been at least six months since their first booster.
More than 33 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the province, with more than 93 per cent of Ontarians 12 and older having had one dose. More than 91 per cent have received a second dose. However, uptake of the third shot continues to lag. As of Tuesday, only 57 per cent of eligible Ontarians have got their first booster.
The provincial government also announced on Thursday, it is extending paid sick days for workers until March 31, 2023. Under the program that encourages employees who aren't feeling well to stay home, a worker would be eligible to receive up to $200 a day for up to three days. The province reimburses the money to employers.