The COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 will be offered through the province’s school system and at general COVID vaccine clinics starting in the coming days.

Health Minister John Haggie says parents and guardians should start getting notifications from their local school in the coming days. Vaccines can also be booked at local vaccine clinics.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says they’re advising that the two-dose vaccine not be administered within 14 days before or after another vaccine, which is simply intended to help with the gathering of clinical information.

She says when there is a new vaccine they want to make sure that if side effects do occur they’re related to that particular vaccine and there’s no confusion over whether it’s one vaccine or another.

Dr. Fitzgerald says the vaccine is safe and effective, and she’s encouraging parents and guardians to get children in that age range vaccinated.

Modelling indicates that having about 90 per cent of the overall population fully vaccinated will help in the safe return to Alert Level 1 and remove public health restrictions.

“Barring any new and unexpected developments, this is the last major hurdle we need to get through in the COVID-19 marathon,” says Fitzgerald.

Childhood Vaccines Beneficial, Says Infectious Disease Physician

Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician Dr. Natalie Bridger says she’s seen first-hand the benefits of childhood vaccines.

She says Newfoundlanders and Labradorians no longer have to worry about children becoming paralyzed by polio, health officials almost never see cases of measles, and babies are no longer born blind due to congenital rubella.

Vaccines are the reason why, says Bridger.