COVID-19: Waterloo Region ready to start immunizations for 5 to 11 year olds on Friday

The Waterloo region will be ready to begin immunizing children aged 5 to 11 years with the children’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday.

The region said the province has announced that the vaccine will arrive in two shipments in the coming days.

The region also said on Tuesday the vaccination booking portal will also begin allowing caregivers of children in that age group to begin booking appointments at area clinics.

On Friday, the head of the immunization task force told reporters the area was hoping to vaccinate interested children in this age group by the holiday.

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“I suggest that it will take us two to three weeks to get all those kids to our clinics, through our primary care offices, through their pharmacies. me, and my hope is that they will all have a chance to get their first dose of vaccinations before the holidays,” said Vickie Murray.

There are about 48,000 children of that age in the area. Murray told the Health Commission last week that 50-70% of the age group (24,000 to 36,000 children) would want to get vaccinated quickly.

The medical unit says it will open enough appointments over the next four weeks for that to happen. Some doctors and pharmacies will also be able to give the vaccine to children.

Children this age should be able to get a second dose of the vaccine, eight weeks after the first dose.

The district said Cambridge Pinebush and The Boardwalk and Wellesley will focus their efforts on children between November 28 and December 12. Adults who want a booster shot will have to get it done by Friday or wait until the date. December 13.

The Pinebush Clinic will seek to immunize about 6,000 children over the weekend of December 11-12.

The Waterloo region warned some doctors’ offices and pharmacies may also be focusing their efforts on children.