(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

By CKOM News

KIDS VACCINE

Saskatchewan reveals plan to vaccinate kids five to 11 against COVID

Oct 26, 2021 | 2:30 PM

Health Canada has yet to approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11, but Saskatchewan unveiled Tuesday its vaccination plan for that age group.

The province announced it has ordered 112,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that is specially formulated for kids. Delivery is expected in mid-November.

Pfizer has applied to Health Canada to get its vaccine approved for kids in that age group. The doses reportedly are about one-third the size given to those 12 and up.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, said recently the province was going to be prepared for the delivery.

“We need to be ready that as soon as vaccines come, it is made available for children (aged) five to 11,” Shahab said during a media conference late last week. “I think all of us with children in that age group should be ready to take the first opportunity to get our children vaccinated.”

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The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is in charge of that plan.

According to a media release, vaccinations will be available at locations including participating pharmacies, SHA walk-in clinics, mobile clinics, schools and venues near schools.

Pfizer made its submission to Health Canada after a trial involving 2,268 participants, each of whom received two doses.

The company’s studies showed the vaccine didn’t produce any safety concerns among children aged five to 11. The studies also showed expected vaccine side effects (such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and chills) were well tolerated and resolved in one to two days.

Pfizer’s vaccine was given the green light by Health Canada for those between the ages of 12 and 15 in May, five months after it was approved for everyone aged 16 and up.

The provincial government noted vaccination for the five-to-11 age group is voluntary and parental or guardian consent is required.

When the vaccine is available, appointments can be made by calling 1-833-727-5829 or going online or at participating pharmacies.

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