Children between 6 months and 5 years old can get COVID-19 vaccine in N.L. starting Monday

Starting Monday, children between the ages of six months and five years can receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Parents and guardians can book appointments online through the provincial government's COVID-19 website.

On Thursday, acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosann Sevioursaid the province's health authorities will be opening vaccine clinics daily. Anyone who doesn't see availability in their area immediately shouldcontinue checking the website for updates, she said.The shot for this age group will not be available by pharmacists.

"This vaccine is 25 micrograms, which is one-quarter of the dose of the Moderna SpikeVaxvaccine that we offer for adults. For our youngest age group, the series consists of two doses," Seviour said.

"Real world experience has shown that the vaccine works very well in preventing hospitalizations and severe illness."

Doses are spaced eight weeks apart. Children who are immunocompromised will receive three doses to boost their immune response, Seviour said, and in those situations those doses can be administered four to eight weeks apart.

Children five years old and upwill still receive the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine.

Watch the full July 28 update:

N.L. to start vaccinating children against COVID-19

2 years ago

Duration 13:46

Children five years old and under will be able to get their first shot of the Moderna vaccine starting Monday Aug. 1.

Children who have had a COVID-19 infection can get a vaccine shot once they'verecovered, said Seviour.

"While the majority of COVID-19 infections in young children are mild, we know that some children will become very sick and some will require hospitalization and some even ICU admission," she said.

"We have seen increased hospitalizations in the six-month to five-year age groups since the rise of the Omicron variant."

There areabout 18,000 children in N.L. intheage group who, as of Monday, are eligible for a vaccine dose.

Seviour said 62.2 per cent of residents over 12 years old have gotten at least three doses of vaccine to date with Newfoundland and Labradorleading the country.

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